Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Residents who live on Monroe's southside are looking to city and law enforcement officials to help them cope with many residents who say a bigger police presence is needed in their neighborhoods. Residents say they are concerned with individuals speeding down their streets despite the 25 mph speed limit and neighborhood watch signs in plain sight. Some of the residents are going to great lengths to protect their lives and property from those trying to steal personal belongings from their yards. Some have cameras that surround their residence in hopes of catching someone who may attempt to take some of their property. One resident has energy utility poles with lights installed in his backyard to help illuminate the street near his home and yard. There have been instances of individuals jumping over some residents' fences and damaging them as they try to gain access to their property. Their concerns are so dire that one had to anchor down their property by having said property chained around a tree, knowing that someone may have eyes on it. Residents say that cameras are good, but a steady presence of law enforcement patrolling the area would go a long way in giving more protection to them. This reporter spent about four hours in and around 8th, 9th, and 10th streets and did not see an MPD unit driving on the roads.

One resident said that some drivers completely ignored posted speed zone signs as if they were invisible. Though things appeared to be quiet leading into the early evening hours, this reporter witnessed a couple of speeders, even one on a four-wheeler. There were numerous children in yards that were close to the streets, but by the grace of God, none were hit. Crime is a serious issue for residents in the area, as one resident said that a suspect running from police tried to hide on the side of his house. Upon hearing the noise, the resident confronted the alleged suspect, was able to gain control of him doing a struggle, and held him until police arrived. He said it was a wonder that the suspect didn't have a gun on him, as his words made him realize that things could have turned out completely different. Residents try to clean their grounds and clean ditches, but there are those who dump their trash/garbage on residents' property, leaving them to clean and maintain ditches especially. Alleyways that separate houses are a big concern because those with criminal intentions tend to run through them to escape detection that residents fear. One of the things that residents would like to see is additional lighting in dark areas. Then there is the concern for the shootings, usually late at night. Residents lock their doors, not knowing if it will be a quiet night or not.

Perhaps those residents will find solace in the words of Mayor Friday Ellis and MPD Chief "Vic" Zordan as they held a news conference to send a message to those engaged in criminal acts. Chief Zordan said that his department "is working hard" to get gangs and guns off the street. Zordan said that it is a small population of gangs that is behind most of the crime and that when they are caught, they will receive the maximum penalty for their actions. Though there are community programs to try to reach at-risk young people, Mayor Ellis said that "law enforcement and justices must do their job', adding that if they don't see to it that these criminals go away, then he will see to it that they are exposed according to reports. Chief Zordan also said he is asking the community to help the police, as law enforcement can't fix the problem by itself. Seeing law enforcement a little more often, especially at night, might be a good start for some southside residents.