Jackson Free Press

Standing at the corner of Florence and Valley Streets near the campus of Jackson State University, it is evident why Royce Smith Jr. is concerned about his business. Buildings in the Washington Addition have seen better days and, according to Smith, a lack of police presence has turned the area into a hot spot for drug sales and other crimes. Because of the adverse condition of the area, Smith, the owner of Country Fresh Produce on Valley Street, has distributed a petition for more police to patrol the area to help battle the problem.

"I have never seen anything like it before. I thought it would change when they put the precinct there (at Valley Street) under Harvey Johnson's administration. … It's just ridiculous now," Smith said.

Smith's petition states: "We are requesting increased police presence in the Washington Addition immediately. Our streets have become too dangerous as citizens of the city of Jackson." The petition, he says, was inspired by a project he participated in a few years ago. While teaching at Jim Hill High School, he had the opportunity to oversee a project called "Not Here," which gathered 700 signatures on a petition that helped put the Precinct 2 police station on Valley Street.

While Jackson police have patrolled the area, Smith believes there needs to be permanent police in the area to help keep people safe. Though Smith says that calls to the police do not happen every day, "every other day you have to call about something."

Jackson Police Chief Malcolm McMillin said that an increased police presence would take time.

"We're going to be starting a new recruit class on the first of August, and we're going to be able to increase our numbers on the street," McMillin said. "So I think that that would be a distinct possibility after adding these additional personnel to increase the number of officers in that precinct so that Washington Addition would have additional officers. But at present, we have a shortage, which has made us go to 12-hour shifts."

Smith points out that not only is there a university close by, but Jim Hill High School and Isable Elementary are within walking distance of his business. As after-school coordinator for Jackson Public Schools, Smith believes that heavy crime is not good for the schools.

Officials from the school could not be reached for comment at press time.

Of the addresses on the 200-plus-signature petition, many list 1400 Valley St., an apartment building called The Palisades across the street from Smith's business where he points out there is a lot of crime activity.

"A lot of the customers that I have coming in live in the Palisades. (They) are complaining about their cars being broken into," he said.

According to the weekly crime reports on JPD's Web site, there were three vehicular burglaries May 5 on Valley Street alone.

While others in the Washington Addition area have had severe problems, Smith has had fewer problems because of the upkeep of the store he and his wife, Lynda, have owned at that location for eight years.

"I have been able to keep my corner pretty clean, but it doesn't make you feel safe," he said.

While moves to increase police involvement in the past have failed, Smith hopes this effort will stand out to JPD's Precinct 2. Smith said that he and other community members would be faxing the petition to the City of Jackson, Mayor Frank Melton, the Jackson City Council and Police Chief Malcolm McMillin later in the week.

"I think now people are really at the point where they will say exactly what is wrong," Smith said. "[W]e're thinking that once we start faxing these in, that it will get to the right people, and it will force them to come out and start policing in the area."