Municipal officials encourage community awareness on crime

Municipal officials in Marion County served as special guest speakers during a community crime prevention awareness seminar Monday at the Marion County Technical Education Center.

Organizer Daniel Blue, owner of The Blue Group, stressed the importance of bringing as many people together as possible to share ideas.

Keeping elected officials and law enforcement agencies informed on crime in the area is an ongoing process that got attention during the program. City of Marion Mayor Pro Tem Bobby Davis, Sellers Town Council member Deidra McRae and Nichols Town Council member Tommesena Floyd all provided a few remarks and fielded questions from the nearly three dozen individuals in attendance.

Blue said his company installs security alarm and surveillance devices for families wanting to take additional measures to protect their homes and families. He also distributed contact information to various local, state and federal agencies involved in law enforcement. “We know something is going on in our communities, and we have to speak up,” Blue said, adding that he’s active in the community because that’s what he knows.

Working together as a team was the theme of the meeting as municipal leaders spoke about how crime is being addressed and voicing the needs of citizens.

Davis said that during his stint serving as the first African American to hold the mayoral position in the City of Marion, he called for gang graffiti to be cleaned up in an area of town along Highway 76. “We know that crime is on the increase and unemployment is a contributing factor,” he said, adding that a few civic groups are very concerned.

In response, Davis said the City of Marion has adopted a curfew ordinance, developed a plan to hire an officer specifically to combat gang activity, outfitting the police department with tasers and are exploring a city surveillance plan. Davis reported that in one month, the city had 12 simple assaults and 22 robberies.

Floyd said Nichols is fortunate to be a small community with a little more than 600 people, making crime relatively small. Speeding and open containers are the most common offenses, but she added the town has fully staffed its police department.

McRae said mostly petty crimes occur in Sellers, but the area remains in need of police protection and support from the Marion County Sheriff’s Office. Crime watch groups and support for the local youth is a major need, she said.

Teresa Schultz is part of a crime watch group in Marion and said it’s good to bring all groups together and that people are fed up. “It gives these people an opportunity to talk, but we need to go beyond that for help,” she said, adding that she hopes to prepare citizens through awareness, self-defense and concealed weapons training. “We’re going to have to save each other,” she said. A plan to establish safe houses easily identifiable to kids is one idea.

Martha Reaves is part of a crime watch group in the north Mullins area. “Sometimes when you see something, you got to make a move,” she said.

Brenda Henderson, a local merchant on Main Street in Marion, said crime has affected her job, as well. “We love our customers,” she said. “But when people come in that you don’t know, you have to pay attention now.” Henderson said she has witnessed a customer chase down a purse snatcher and help lead to his arrest in another county.

Former chief deputy with the Dillon County Sheriff’s Department Douglas Pernell said he is helping to organize a crime awareness seminar in Dillon, and he offered a piece of advice to citizens.

“You’re going to have to pick up the phone and call,” he said, adding there are people that can help. “You can’t stand back and watch, you have to do something before it’s too late,” said the 24-year veteran. Pernell said the seminar was a good way to get started and the community will have to continue meeting and working together.

“Take a stand, don’t be afraid. You don’t want those type of people to influence your kids,” Purnell said.