Jackson Free Press

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Jackson police officers should conserve gasoline by not leaving their patrol cars running unattended, assistant chief Lee Vance said at a command staff meeting this morning.

JPD has spent 62 percent of its annual budget thus far, below its initial target of 69 percent for the year to date. Fuel expenditures are above projections, though, at 71.4 percent of the annual fuel budget.

Vance told command staff to make sure their officers were not wasting fuel trying to keep their cars air conditioned.

"Back in the day, some of the sergeants we had would get in the car and drive it around the corner," Vance said. "When you walked out of wherever you were, the damn car would be gone."

"We raise hell with these citizens when they do the same thing, and we've got to lead by example," Vance added. "We can't do anything about fuel prices, but we can do something about fuel usage. I don't expect anybody to not go on a call because they're trying to conserve gas, but I'm saying the little ways that we can help conserve, let's do that."

Deputy Chief for Patrol Eric Wall told precinct commanders to make sure they were fully staffed for the weekend, with a number of major events requiring a police presence including the International Ballet Competition. Precinct 3 Commander Ron Sampson said his officers are expecting between 400 and 600 motorcycle enthusiasts from across the region for the Friends of Fallen Riders memorial gathering Saturday at Lake Hico Park.

Vance also commended precinct commanders for a weekly crime report that showed a large decrease in property crime. Patrol officers reported 180 property crimes last week, down from 215 the week before. The drop was most significant in house burglaries, which dropped from 103 to 62, a nearly 40 percent decrease. House burglaries are still up 13 percent for the year to date. Officers are still searching for two men, one black and one white, suspected in numerous house burglaries across multiple precincts in the city. Witnesses have spotted the men driving a white Chevrolet or GMC pickup truck with household appliances loaded in the back.