Hinds sheriff announces new Street Crimes Unit for Jackson

Published 2:00 pm Tuesday, April 19, 2016

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Hinds County Sheriff Victor Mason says a new Street Crimes Unit has been assembled to address violent crime in Jackson.

Mason told Jackson news outlets Monday that the unit will include full-time and part-time deputies with expertise in fighting drugs, prostitution, and other street-level crimes.

Mason said the unit is being formed in response to shootings, robberies and carjackings plaguing the area.

“We will target crime hot spots,” Mason said in a news release. “We will visit neighborhood associations and let them show us problem areas, and we will respond.” Mason said the unit will gather information with help from residents.

‘Gathering intelligence will be a major part of this endeavor,” he said, encouraging anyone with information on criminal activity to call his department.

The sheriff chose Lt. Darron Terry, a 15-year member of the department, to help get the team together and hit the high crime hotspots.

“Until you make an example of people, they’re gonna continue to do it,” Terry said Monday.