City officials decided to hold one more special Public Safety Committee monthly town-hall meeting on crime before deciding whether to cancel the series after there was poor turnout at the one Wednesday.
Fewer than five residents attended the meeting, where representatives from the City Council and police, fire, city attorney and mayor’s departments were on hand to answer questions and brainstorm with the public about ways to reduce and prevent crime. At the first such town-hall meeting in November, there was a standing-room-only crowd.
The meeting was held at 4 p.m., when severe storms were sweeping across the county, so city officials and Public Safety Chairwoman Irene Holcomb decided to have one more meeting at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 1, to see if there is still public interest in the meetings.
“Personally, I have nothing against meeting, because I think any interaction with the public is good,” Holcomb said.
Representing the Police Department, Assistant Chief Ivan Whitfield said the department has hosted a community-wide Neighborhood Watch meeting — something that was requested by residents at the January town-hall meeting. Also since the last meeting, the department has launched a text-a-tip program. Residents can anonymously submit tips about crime to the Police Department by texting PBPD plus the message to 274637.
Representing the Fire Department, Fire Chief Shauwn Howell asked the public to keep an eye out for suspicious activity around vacant buildings and report it to either the police or fire departments. Arson fires have not been as frequent lately as in previous years, but they are still a concern.