“This is the most important committee,” City of Marion Mayor Rodney Berry said to 15 committee members participating in a city sponsored crime watch organization.
The Fox Watch group held their first meeting this past Tuesday at the Marion Opera House and was presented a $6,000 check from the city to jumpstart the organization.
“Fox Watch is an attempt to involved the citizens of Marion with our police department in an effort to fight crime,” Berry said, adding that organization will also recruit the help of volunteers.
“Most people agree it takes a village to raise a child and the truth in today's environment, it takes a village to fight crime,” Berry said.
Marion City council members have appointed two citizens in their districts to serve as captains on the committee, he said.
“They will serve as spokespersons for their respective districts and conduct business for the committee,” Berry said.
Berry said he hopes to launch the campaign by organizing a cookout for the citizens of their districts funded by the city. “These cookouts will serve as a means to organize the districts and inform and educate the community in regards to fighting crime,” he said, adding that an extensive email and phone contact list will be compiled and utilized to alert and keep citizens abreast of criminal activity.
A Fox Watch logo was unveiled and will be used in yard signs, decals, bumper stickers, shirts and other ways in an effort to show a serious stance in the city of Marion in promoting a zero tolerance attitude toward crime,” he said.
Teresa Schultz, a member of a local crime watch group said the citizens are getting what they asked for and there is plenty of work ahead. “It’s a good cause and will benefit everybody,” she said, adding that it’s a confidence builder to have all of the captains respond to the call of duty.
Berry said the next step is seeking a building downtown to serve as a police substation and Fox Watch headquarters to have a strong presence downtown.
“Small business owners have too much to worry about in making profits than have to worry about someone robbing them,” Berry said, adding that a telephone hotline will be announce soon where citizens can call to report non-emergency activity to the Fox Watch.
The message is very simple, Berry said. “The city of Marion will not tolerate crime and it is our intent to aggressively deter crime by all means necessary.With the collaboration from all our citizens we can serve notice to the criminal element in a very effective way,” he said.
Citizens in the City of Marion join Mayor Rodney Berry and Marion County law enforcement with the Fox Watch group taking a stand against crime.
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