For Immediate Release:
February 13, 2024
(Jackson, Miss.) – The City of Jackson is proud to partner with fellow local, state and federal law enforcement agencies under the Operation Unified umbrella to combat crime in the Capital City. This is a continuation of efforts behind the scenes to pool resources and capabilities in a united front, and we are supportive of all sensible and effective efforts to address this public safety issue.
We believe in the potential for positive results in the largest city in the state, as we also acknowledge other efforts at work to develop a comprehensive approach to crime prevention that includes the recent opening of the Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery. This office is tasked with proactive strategies at the street level to prevent crime by “interrupting” or breaking the cycles of violence from occurring in the first place.
We also understand the importance of bolstering our staff at JPD and have seen under Chief Joseph Wade a dramatic 16 percent increase in sworn officers to the force, from 221 officers to 269 officers at the beginning of the New Year. JPD is even larger now, and continues to grow as we hold multiple recruitment drives, training academies, and welcome former officers back into the fold.
It is also important to convey to the public some other progress JPD has made that residents might not be aware of. While we still have a ways to go, the City of Jackson in 2023 saw a 25 percent decrease in homicides since 2021 and a 13 percent decrease from 2022. We also remain above the national average, even with limited resources, in clearing (solving) homicide cases.
This has not occurred overnight. Rather, it has been the hard, committed work of our law enforcement community, as well as city officials, and non-profit, community and religious leaders. Since Jackson is the largest city in the state, with the largest economic engine, it’s possibilities are reflective of what we can all do to make the world a better place from where we stand.
Again, I want to reiterate my gratitude to a committed and fruitful partnership among all agencies and stakeholders moving forward.