Escalating incidences of violent crime in Muskogee in recent months has sparked a debate about what can be done to curb the madness.
Suggested solutions range from community prayer to increased vigilance by law enforcement and residents alike. Muskogee's mayor said it's "time to go on the offense against crime."
Mayor John Tyler Hammons said more "boots on the ground" are needed to combat violent crime. He wants to do that by passing a new sales tax, which he said would generate an additional $6 million to help fight crime.
"People are tired of all the crime — they are tired of the criminal activity," Hammons said, predicting widespread support of his proposed one-tenth of a percent sales tax. "No one wants to pay more taxes — especially me. But public safety is our No. 1 concern, and we'll do anything it takes to keep our citizens safe."
Hammons said his plan would create two new divisions within the police department and add 10 new officers. It would cost consumers an extra 10 cents for every $100 spent at local retailers during the course of the next 10 years. Consumers already pay 4 cents for every dollar spent for municipal sales tax plus 5.15 cents for county and state sales taxes.
Under Hammons' plan, which would be placed on the April 3 ballot should it win City Council approval, two new divisions would be created within the police department. Revenue generated by the sales tax would be used to hire an estimated 10 additional officers to staff the divisions.
"These will be boots on the ground, not desk jobs, not command staff," Hammons said. "Boots on the ground: It's effective."
The two new divisions would focus on criminal interdiction and intelligence gathering. The criminal interdiction unit would work in conjunction with the department's regular patrol division. The intelligence gathering unit would work with state and federal agencies to gather information about organized crime and gang activity.
Police Chief Rex Eskridge said the creation of these divisions and the addition of new officers would enable the department to be "more proactive as opposed to reactive."
Muskogee police officers, Eskridge said, respond to nearly 70,000 calls for service annually in addition to traffic-related incidents. Eskridge said that is close to the same number of calls responded to by the police department in Norman, which is nearly three times the size of Muskogee.
"Ninety-two percent of our officers are in the field involved in enforcement activities at any given time," Eskridge said. "We are constantly at maximum staffing levels, and when we have a shooting, we're having to call in our off-duty officers."
With the additional officers for which Hammons' sales tax would provide, Eskridge said the department could operate proactively instead of in a reactive mode.
"We're in a constant state of reaction," Eskridge said, noting the number of calls to which the department responds. "Even with one homicide, it takes a whole shift to secure the scene, conduct the investigation and even more when we're chasing a suspect. We're always robbing Peter to pay Paul."
The additional officers for interdiction and intelligence gathering, Eskridge said, would enable the department to target high-crime areas with a greater police presence.
Cedric Johnson, a retired educator and past president of the Muskogee branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said that type of enforcement might anger some people. But in light of recent violence, he said it's needed.
"The areas where most of this crime is going on would be primary targets," Johnson said. "And you're going to have some folks saying, 'They are picking on me.' Well, yeah, we're going to pick on you."
Johnson said the recent spate of homicides — four since the first part of November — has created a climate that will facilitate the passage of Hammons' proposed tax.
"We have a growing problem, and the current events cast long shadows," Johnson said. "I don't think it's over."
Hammons said he will present his proposal Tuesday during the Muskogee Finance Committee meeting. If committee members recommend approval, the measure will be forwarded the following week to the City Council.
"Increasing the number of officers patrolling our streets will serve as a visible deterrent against criminal activity," Hammons said. "Having a dedicated team of criminal intelligence professionals will allow the police department to be proactive in preventing criminal activity."
Suggested solutions range from community prayer to increased vigilance by law enforcement and residents alike. Muskogee's mayor said it's "time to go on the offense against crime."
Mayor John Tyler Hammons said more "boots on the ground" are needed to combat violent crime. He wants to do that by passing a new sales tax, which he said would generate an additional $6 million to help fight crime.
"People are tired of all the crime — they are tired of the criminal activity," Hammons said, predicting widespread support of his proposed one-tenth of a percent sales tax. "No one wants to pay more taxes — especially me. But public safety is our No. 1 concern, and we'll do anything it takes to keep our citizens safe."
Hammons said his plan would create two new divisions within the police department and add 10 new officers. It would cost consumers an extra 10 cents for every $100 spent at local retailers during the course of the next 10 years. Consumers already pay 4 cents for every dollar spent for municipal sales tax plus 5.15 cents for county and state sales taxes.
Under Hammons' plan, which would be placed on the April 3 ballot should it win City Council approval, two new divisions would be created within the police department. Revenue generated by the sales tax would be used to hire an estimated 10 additional officers to staff the divisions.
"These will be boots on the ground, not desk jobs, not command staff," Hammons said. "Boots on the ground: It's effective."
The two new divisions would focus on criminal interdiction and intelligence gathering. The criminal interdiction unit would work in conjunction with the department's regular patrol division. The intelligence gathering unit would work with state and federal agencies to gather information about organized crime and gang activity.
Police Chief Rex Eskridge said the creation of these divisions and the addition of new officers would enable the department to be "more proactive as opposed to reactive."
Muskogee police officers, Eskridge said, respond to nearly 70,000 calls for service annually in addition to traffic-related incidents. Eskridge said that is close to the same number of calls responded to by the police department in Norman, which is nearly three times the size of Muskogee.
"Ninety-two percent of our officers are in the field involved in enforcement activities at any given time," Eskridge said. "We are constantly at maximum staffing levels, and when we have a shooting, we're having to call in our off-duty officers."
With the additional officers for which Hammons' sales tax would provide, Eskridge said the department could operate proactively instead of in a reactive mode.
"We're in a constant state of reaction," Eskridge said, noting the number of calls to which the department responds. "Even with one homicide, it takes a whole shift to secure the scene, conduct the investigation and even more when we're chasing a suspect. We're always robbing Peter to pay Paul."
The additional officers for interdiction and intelligence gathering, Eskridge said, would enable the department to target high-crime areas with a greater police presence.
Cedric Johnson, a retired educator and past president of the Muskogee branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, said that type of enforcement might anger some people. But in light of recent violence, he said it's needed.
"The areas where most of this crime is going on would be primary targets," Johnson said. "And you're going to have some folks saying, 'They are picking on me.' Well, yeah, we're going to pick on you."
Johnson said the recent spate of homicides — four since the first part of November — has created a climate that will facilitate the passage of Hammons' proposed tax.
"We have a growing problem, and the current events cast long shadows," Johnson said. "I don't think it's over."
Hammons said he will present his proposal Tuesday during the Muskogee Finance Committee meeting. If committee members recommend approval, the measure will be forwarded the following week to the City Council.
"Increasing the number of officers patrolling our streets will serve as a visible deterrent against criminal activity," Hammons said. "Having a dedicated team of criminal intelligence professionals will allow the police department to be proactive in preventing criminal activity."
For more information on these matters, please call our office at 305 548 5020.
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