The task force created to investigate gang activity has brought about some “very positive” results, says Greenwood Police Chief Terrence Craft.
Craft announced the task force in early August. He told the City Council that the task force would be “very aggressive” and its members would also attempt to integrate themselves into the community to address the causes of gang violence.
He said progress has been made.
The task force "actually has been very productive,” he said. “They’ve been visible in the community and made contact with a lot of people. They’ve made a lot of drug arrests and gotten quite a few guns off the street.”
Jody Bradley, executive administrator of the Police Department, said he had spoken recently with Leflore County Sheriff Ricky Banks, who also reported a positive effect of the task force on the county as a whole.
The task force was started following a pair of drive-by shootings — one on July 1 and another on July 23 — that resulted in a total of eight injuries and two deaths.
Craft said that both shootings are rooted in a long-standing gang rivalry. One gang is around McLaurin Street and the other around W.J. Bishop Apartments, according to the chief.
As part of the investigative unit, a series of safety checkpoints were regularly installed throughout Greenwood.
Also known as roadblocks, checkpoints have been controversial in some places. The city of Jackson is facing a lawsuit that alleges the checkpoints there have been disproportionally placed in majority-Black and low income areas.
Craft said he is aware of the controversies and advised his officers at the checkpoints to remain positive and use their body cameras. They must have sound reasoning if a driver is to be detained, he said.
The usage of checkpoints has been scaled back, and they will be employed only occasionally, he said.
The task force as a whole may be fully integrated into the narcotics unit for two reasons, he said. The first is that the narcotics unit has not been fully staffed for a long time; the second is the continued connection between violent crime and drugs.
“A majority of our crime that occurs, believe it or not, revolves around drugs and alcohol,” he said. “Even when you see all these gang shootings and things of that nature, a lot of these guys doing these shootings, they’re involved in some kind of drug activity — whether you believe it or not. That’s how they’re getting the money to do this, do that. It’s by selling drugs.”
- Contact Kevin Edwards at 662-581-7233 or kedwards@gwcommonwealth.com.
