Public safety is a unified mission within the city of Jackson. The course of action for public safety targets such elements as geography, crime, disaster planning, infrastructure, education and economic development.

Public safety requires strong partnerships among families and neighbors, city government, judicial entities, first responders, educators, churches, human service agencies and community trustees.

While effective in many ways, the plan has been intensified by shared determination to alter the course of criminal activity. Yes, the city of Jackson has crime. If one person believes they have the magic answer, everyone should be grossly disappointed that it was withheld. The truth is that there is no simple, guaranteed resolve. The strategy of the city of Jackson does, however, include relevant solutions.

Like cities across America, Jackson’s crime is rooted in many causes — the breakdown of the family, increase in gang activity, poor graduation rates, lack of jobs, apathy and more. Debating the causes doesn’t prevent crime or put criminals in jail. Crime in one geographic area of the city does impact the perception of the entire city. Aim is taken to disrupt the spread, and focus efforts at containment and deterrence.

Neighborhood residents are learning to speak up and stop the cycle of crime and violence. Taking a stand means boldly participating in making the environment safer. Strong relationships with neighbors, churches and police make telling someone what is happening safe for youth and adults, and stresses the importance of never being bullied into silence and never allowing oneself to be made a victim. The approach is distinct, and focused on street outreach and relationship building to halt the spread of retaliatory violence.

The citywide strategy to increase public safety and deter crime involves a new initiative with the Jackson Police Department called Blue Impact. Action steps are developed to suppress, prevent, intervene and educate through community-oriented policing; pro-active problem solving; working closely with other law enforcement agencies; adjusting work schedules for more effective policing; and aggressively pursuing gang members and other criminals.

To further decrease criminal activity and suspicious behavior, Building and Housing Codes, Neighborhood Services and Environmental Court have been vigilant to remove residential and commercial blight. The city efforts have resulted in 89 properties being torn down, with another 19 ready for tear-down, and 60 in abatement.

Nonprofit organizations are an integral part of public safety, i.e. Area Relief Ministries programs (Phoenix Curriculum, HUB Club, plus A Resilient Community) that train nonprofit organizations and churches serving youth. This network of agencies assists those in need, strengthens community relationships, and helps position a shift in thinking so that children, youth and adults gain a vision and hope for their life.

Recent actions taken for public safety resulted in the arrest of nine gang members. These actions provided a sense of security to those people who are coming forth with vital information. The efforts include the installation of surveillance cameras in high-density, at-risk neighborhoods, creation of a multi-jurisdictional anti-gang task force with a full-time gang prosecutor, and providing programs throughout our city that mentor young people, provide role models, and provide tutoring to children that allows success in school.

For the third year in a row, the city of Jackson put 50 first-offenders in Juvenile Court to work. They earned money the legal way.

I see a victory when a teacher says she can see a difference in the attitude of her students after they finish the session from the Phoenix program.

I see a victory when the program is so successful with fifth-graders that it is expanding this school year to follow those fifth-graders into sixth grade.

I see a victory whenever another group or church gets involved and says, “we care.”

I see a victory whenever another gang member is caught, taken to court, and sent to prison.

To gang members, I say: It’s time to take the next bus out of town. If you continue to commit crimes in Jackson, you’ll either go to prison, or you could die in a gang-related, revenge homicide.

The people of the city of Jackson are our greatest asset and the ones who influence public safety, which in turn compels the rise of the standard of living and prosperity for the city of Jackson. Let it be said from your own experience, the city has an effective plan for public safety.

Jerry Gist is mayor of Jackson; he is seeking re-election in 2015. Contact Mayor Jerry Gist at (731) 425-8240, or online at

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