Longview Officials Respond to String of Violence

LONGVIEW — A fatal shooting Tuesday night was a wake-up call to the community. City officials said it’s time to take action and they are calling on the community to help. In a news conference Friday, Mayor Jay Dean announced a series of strategies to reach the community, such as increasing the Crime Stoppers award to $2,000, hosting neighborhood watch meetings and easing confidential conversations between citizens and police. According to KETK, an increased police presence in high crime areas is another measure that will be taken. A majority of the violent crimes have taken place in District 3, and Councilwoman Kasha Williams said they know people out there have information, and they know there is a reason people are not speaking up.

To address trust issues and lack of communication, Dean said Partners in Prevention will host a volunteer community outreach event April 11th at Broughton Park. A time has not yet been determined. Dean said this event will educate the community on safe ways to open up much needed dialogue.

At this time, more than half of the homicides in the last 15 months are unsolved. Other than two domestic violence cases, police said narcotics and other illegal activities were involved in some way. To counter that, Dean listed strategies to attempt to eradicate an environment that draws criminals.

The city is looking at ordinance codes and plans to raise the standards for rental properties. Dean addressed the problem of the “slum lords” that profit off of low income rental properties and have no regard for the quality of life in the community. Also, there is a plan to coordinate with the Attorney General’s office to use to Texas Nuisance Abatement Statute to prosecute repeat offenders. As it stands now, it requires six complaints to take action. Dean said that is too many.