Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Crime Program Runs Into Snag

Residents of Gurdon have been asking about the progress of the Neighborhood Crime Watch Program.

Reverends Gene Edwards and Bobby Marshall brought the issue before the Gurdon City Council in July, and were given the council's approval to install the program. However, little has been heard of the project since.

Edwards said he and Marshall know people are curious about the standing of the watch program, and they haven't forgotten about it. He said there are rumors floating around the city there will be serious problems is such a program is not instituted. "We'd hoped to have it going by now," he said.

At this time, the pair are working to get block captains named. Edwards said more participation from all parts of the city is needed to get the Neighborhood Crime Watch Program off the ground.

When a meeting was held in August, only 30 to 35 people showed up, and these residents represented a small segment of the city's population. "We need representatives from all over town," Edwards said. "The black people want to see it go, but we don't have good representation from the entire town.

"This program will affect all of Gurdon."

Edwards said he and Marshall are also working to get the ministerial alliance up and running again, so it can help get the crime watch program underway, along with simply getting more people involved in different aspects of life in Gurdon. "It will help if we can get the pastors involved in the program," he said.

"For the first time, I can see the community coming together -- people from all over. I don't want to see it fall apart again. If we don't get this program going, there will be some major problems."

Edwards said drugs are becoming a real problem in Gurdon; a problem that's growing daily. "We need the police involved to help set up the program," he said. "Clark County Sheriff Troy Tucker said he would support the program, as did the city council.

"The biggest problem is getting block captains and communication. People want to do the patrols."

According to Edwards the city is in the beginning of seeing gangs develop. This, he said, is a problem which needs to be addressed. He said gangs tend to recruit children in elementary schools and these children then grow up in gangs. "There are drugs and gangs activity around our schools," he said. "Drugs are killing our country."

Edwards reminded those who participate in the crime watch program, they will not be allowed to carry weapons, nor are they to act in any way as a law enforcement person. He said once the patrols spot suspicious activity, they are to call the police immediately and keep the suspect under watch.