Milteer calls for citizen task force to address crime in Suffolk
Published 12:00 am Thursday, September 8, 2005
A city lawmaker on Wednesday called for establishing for a citizen task for help take a bite out of crime in Suffolk.
Councilman Curtis Milteer Sr. said he believes organized groups will encourage citizens to take a more active role in crime prevention in their respective neighborhoods.
&uot;We have had two homicides in the Whaleyville borough this year,&uot; said Milteer, who represents that area of the city. &uot;The police department is doing a excellent job but their hands are tied until a crime has been committed.
&uot;We need involvement from citizens,…the community’s mindset has to be changed to prevent crime.&uot;
The Suffolk Police Department is seeing more involvement from residents, said Police Chief William Freeman.
&uot;We have always steadfastly said that we need more citizen participation,&uot; he said. &uot;We are seeing more people stepping up to the plate.&uot;
Although no other council members echoed Milteer’s call for a task force, all agreed that the city’s police officers and citizens must work as a team.
&uot;The police can’t be everywhere,&uot; said Vice Mayor Leroy Bennett. &uot;They (citizens) are supposed to be your eyes and ears.
&uot;People need to take the initiative and make phone calls and let the police know what is going on in their neighborhoods. Stop something before it gets started.&uot;
allison.williams@suffolknewsheralsd.com