Jackson Free Press

JACKSON — Hinds County Sheriff Victor Mason wants to sweep away the "transient" population downtown with a bike-and-foot patrol comprised of reserve officers, all without expense to the county.

"Not one dime," Mason said during a Sept. 22 interview. "See, that's the good part about it. Reserves don't get paid. They are required to put so many hours in monthly. Other than being seen, they don't cost the county any money."

Mason said the bike patrols are comprised of volunteers who must meet a monthly requirement of service hours. They are trained to minimum standards, Mason said, and certified to carry a firearm and have the power to arrest. The recent announcement that construction of the Capitol Art Lofts would soon begin across from the King Edward Hotel spurred the idea, the sheriff said.

"These people that come in town want to feel safe," Mason said. "When they get off the train from New York or wherever, they want to see bright lights, big city. But you have those that come and want to leave the hotel and walk around at night. They are being bothered by transients, aggressive transients."

"Instead of being scared and/or insulted, I said we got to clean this up," he added.

Mason said that he was approached before for money, when he had relatives visiting from Chicago.

"And one guy asked me, believe it or not, for five dollars, and I told him that I was going to ask him for the same thing," Mason said. "We don't want to be faced with that everyday."

He said the county law enforcement officers were working in concert with the Jackson Police Department. "This is just something that we took up though, the foot patrol," Mason said. "Egos shouldn't get in the way of crime, so there shouldn't be any friction."

Mason said that for the moment the patrol would circle around the Capitol Street area, but might expand its coverage.

"We are going to do Capitol Street. We may get to Farish later on, but it's got to be one at a time right now," Mason said. "Hours are probably going to be midmorning to night, and that's it. And again but as I said it's flexible."

Ben Allen, president of Downtown Jackson Partners, said he would speak with Mason soon about the project, but that the organization appreciated any help patrolling the downtown area. Allen's organization runs a program with patrolling "Ambassadors" who act as point-of-contact for visitors and homeless alike.

Email city reporter Tim Summers, Jr. at [email protected]. See more local news at jfp.ms/localnews.