Dupree to hold Press Conference

[R1ZOOM]

http://hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061009/NEWS01/61009010


“It’s really terrible out here,” said Marilyn Payne. “(Gang activity) is everywhere. Police are riding through, but the next day or the next hour they’re right back at it. Everyday when I come home from work, there’s a pile of young teenagers out there. I really don’t know what they can do.”

Simple, get a new police chief that isn't on the mayor's and Fairley's puppet strings and isn't afraid to enforce the law with a stern hand, and who's not afraid to hurt some feelings along the way. Let the officer's do the job they're trained to do without fear of being called into the chief's office.

I find it hard to believe that a lot of people in these communities don't see the problem? Are they still singing praises on Wynn and Dupree? What will it take to open their eyes? I hate to stereotype any certain group, but a lot of Dupree's support comes from the east side of Hattiesburg, and these people's neighborhoods are falling apart in front of them, yet they blindly follow Dupree.

[58ford]

Everyday when I come home from work, there’s a pile of young teenagers out there.
Don't we have some kind of unlawful gathering law?
I know they used to break us up when I was a kid & we hung out ouside the mall.

[Maggie-Doodle]

WELL IT IS ABOUT TIME! It is hard to believe he is ACTUALLY going to discuss the topic! It will certainly be interesting to see what he says about all this! Who is he going to blame for all the sh** that is happening? I doubt very seriously he will acknowledge that he or Wynn has anything to do with it...I can hear him now, "we are out there doing all we can etc. etc. etc."

Maybe the pressure is starting to build...all of us need to keep the pressure coming and turn out in force for any meeting the city has where we can voice an opinion...maybe one day soon we WILL pervail! They can keep their heads buried only so long before they have to come up for air! Please plan on attending the next council meeting to voice your concerns!

[Monkey]

I'm getting sick and tired of the crime in Hattiesburg. When is the mayor going to take the interest of the City of Hattiesburg to heart and do what is necessary to protect its citizens? I don't like pulling into my garage and having to draw the blinds so tight in my house that I sit in the dark to avoid danger. Living off of Adeline Street, I am fearful of what might happen in my neighborhood. Hattiesburg used to be such a pleasant place to live and I BLAME JOHNNY DUPREE for the problems we face today. :mad:

[Maggie-Doodle]

There was/is a loitering law on the books....the sad part is there is not enuf officers available to try and enforce it....when everyone is from call to call they don't have time to just patrol the areas and be pro-active with some of the stuff they used to do...

When the p.d. had a full compliment of officers available they could also enforce the curfew law...lets face it, alot of the gang bangers are underage and could be kept off the streets for awhile IF there were enuf officers to do routine patrol and IF youth court would take the initative to lock up some of the little hoodlums for a week or so...IT IS NOT the fault of the officers that nothing is done to the thugs...that falls to youth court and for the most part they are very lax...I have thougth for along time they are scared to give the thugs any time in lock-up...IF the counselors can't take the heat at youth court, they need to get the heck out! Law enforcement may have been an unwise choice for a career!

[Bahlk]

Not to mention names but when you get chewed out for waking a certain counselor up at 3 in the morning because you've got a juvenile. After they finish chewing you out, they tell you to release them to their parents. What's a patrol officer to do in that situation? There needs to be a cooperation among the different agencies so they can work as a team.

[R1ZOOM]

There was/is a loitering law on the books....the sad part is there is not enuf officers available to try and enforce it....when everyone is from call to call they don't have time to just patrol the areas and be pro-active with some of the stuff they used to do...

When the p.d. had a full compliment of officers available they could also enforce the curfew law...lets face it, alot of the gang bangers are underage and could be kept off the streets for awhile IF there were enuf officers to do routine patrol and IF youth court would take the initative to lock up some of the little hoodlums for a week or so...IT IS NOT the fault of the officers that nothing is done to the thugs...that falls to youth court and for the most part they are very lax...I have thougth for along time they are scared to give the thugs any time in lock-up...IF the counselors can't take the heat at youth court, they need to get the heck out! Law enforcement may have been an unwise choice for a career!


You do bring up a good point Magee. One problem is the lack of space to house offenders also. Forrest Co. Jail is basically full, and with the work center out of commission it creates an even more difficult situation. The criminals know that the PD is understaffed and the officers' hands are tied by the administration, and they know the jail is full. Somebody else mentioned bringing back Camp Katrina, and I think that's a great idea. HPD needs to build a temporary holding facility and start locking people back up again. I remember when HPD would always pick people up for misd. warrants on traffic stops and on calls. Now there is nowhere to hold those people, so they just have to let them go, and word travels fast in the criminal community. It's nearly a free-for-all in hattiesburg because of so many factors. By far though the #1 problem is still the administration and lack of officersm, and loss of experienced officers who knew all of the gang bangers and key players of most of the street crimes.

[Maggie-Doodle]

Zoom, you are so right! I don't understand why they havn't done like the one sheriff out in Arizona or New Mexico...or where ever it is...Mariposa County is all I seem to remember....have a tent city for the suckers....I saw an interview on one of the channels a few weeks ago...THAT man didn't take any bull off of the thugs...there was no a/c, no tv...no luxeries at all....HE didn't seem to have a problem with keeping order.
I have heard alot of correctional people in other states say they would have riots IF those things were not provided for the inmates...that seems a little like b.s. to me...IF it works there, it could be made to work in 99% of other places. It didn't seem to make the correction officers job any more difficult than normal.
One thing for sure, something has to give and soon!

[Maggie-Doodle]

Bahlk, having had to deal with youth court on a daily basis I can tell you more often than not, the youth court counselors would have the officers turn the child loose...they just seem to damn well not want anyone locked up in the y.c. facility...WHY I don't have a clue! I would be willing to be it is almost never even half full...alot of the kids who are there are being housed for other jurisdictions!

[AlphaMale]

It is almost like a day care for some being housed at the detention center. Some of the parents bring the kids in on the weekend to "teach them a lesson" and they head to the bars with the kids gone for the weekend.

[carsalesguy]

here it is:::

yes, i um police chief um is doing his job um as good as he can um we just all need um to get him some um ahhhh um donuts from shipleys....um i have no comment on ah what's going on even ah um it is behind the policeie station um i have a nice um house....uh let's ask ah fairley what i should be doin' um cuz i'm never ah here.....

[cowgirl]

my son called this morning and asked, "well, how's thing in little New Orleans"? i smiled, but really was embarrassed to have a city's image like New Orleans. mayor dupree has destroyed hattiesburg with his lack of knowledge and leadership. he thought that fancy suits and pretty dresses would cover his major shortcomings. now, even his big time supporters see that hattiesburg is a sinking ship (remember the Titanic). hattiesburg was as solid - like the Titanic when he brought his program to town. it's so sad. it's so pitiful to see Hattiesburg falling. fancy suits and frequent travel does NOT a Superior City Continue NOR remake. it takes more than suits, ties, shoes and short caughty phrases to lead, guide and direct.

[Maggie-Doodle]

Cowgirl, apparently the "doctor" degree didn't help him out any in this situation..
He may have book smarts but NO common sense or this crap would come to a screeching halt!

[IGID]

I haven't heard what he said yet, but I will bet anybody he blames it on people from New Orleans that came here after the storm. He will never admit it's his and Wynn's fault....ever.

[58ford]

The convenience store up the road has started closing at dark because of a bunch of pre-teens on bicycles hanging around in the parking lot asking for money & saying very rude things to customers, esp. women.
On the rare occasion that the cops came the kids just took off & came back when they left.
I told them they all needed to go home, and one of the little bastards threw a rock at me.

[Maggie-Doodle]

58, I KNOW it isn't funny...but I am sitting here laughing my a** off! I can just see the look on your face when the little ahole threw the rock at you...
The ONLY thing funnier would have been if you had picked up a rock and threw back at him! :)

[SoMissTV]

The city is done tolerating gang violence. (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061009/NEWS01/61009017)

Why did we tolerate it until now?

[Monkey]

"DuPree did not expand on details of what police are doing, other than to say he and other Pine Belt mayors are working on a plan that would allow police officers from other jurisdictions to come in and assist an understaffed Hattiesburg Police Department."


If I lived in another city I don't think I'd want to pay my police department to protect Hattiesburg. That's just my opinion. :smt102

[OLDLADY]

I was wondering what affect all the crime reported/non-reported is having on business owners? Like 58 referred to a business closing at dark, you hear about people no longer going to certain areas to shop or at certain times of the day or night. When will business owners and such speak up on the crime issue? Is it hurting businesses or anyone's pocket books yet?

[58ford]

So, what I can gather from J Dup's speach is that he is trying to make the thugs laugh so hard the have a collective anurism & die?

[wilebill]

He's grasping at straws. His ass is in a bind and he was looking for anything that may remotely sound like he has a solution. He just said what he did to shut a few people up. Just wait for the furor to die down and it'll be the same old same old.

[Maggie-Doodle]

EXACTLY Wilebill! He probably feels the noose around his neck getting tight! MOST people around here are fed up! Rightly so!

[XC9]

It all boils down to charging the parents. If you cannot control your child, maybe a LOT of community service for the child and parent along with a hefty fine and many parents will start doing a better job when they see it will come back on them. Our streets are nasty with litter and if they make momma start doing some cleanup she may keep the juvenile inside to keep her butt from working. Why are parents not held accountable for their children anymore? I'm sure an organization would step in and say this is wrong to do but maybe it is time to oust some of these groups too.

[Kitty]

Crime is completelyl out of control and it is our city government's responsibility to put a stop to it - that is why they are elected and paid by taxpayers.

I can't believe that even DuPree's oft-cited 61% "mandate" of supporters would think that all is well in the Hub City.

Voter apathy and a fractured opposition in the last election is partly to blame for the current state of the city.

[R1ZOOM]

So, what I can gather from J Dup's speach is that he is trying to make the thugs laugh so hard the have a collective anurism & die?


Thanks, I know I nearly did when I read it. I'm sure the gang bangers are loading up their hoopties and getting out of town after that very persuasive speech.

[aaron]

The city is done tolerating gang violence. (http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061009/NEWS01/61009017)

Why did we tolerate it until now?

Is Dupree related to Terrell Owens? They both seem to call press conferences that leave you wondering why your listening in the first place.

[hbm]

We need to do more than write comment on this site. We need to show up in force at the monday night city council meeting and demand somthing be done. I have talked to one councilman that supports this. We have got to get everyone that is concerned to show up. They dont have to speak. The numbers will speak for themselves. If you are tired of this mess then call everyone you know and have them show up monday night at city hall.

[Kitty]

Is Dupree related to Terrell Owens? They both seem to call press conferences that leave you wondering why your listening in the first place.

Too bad the city can't "trade" DuPree like Philly did T.O.

[OGRepub]

Maybe Dupree and Wynn can contact TO's agent and get them a book deal. "Little D learns to tell the truth and Little W learns to lead'. The real solution to the crime problem could be found in our two outstanding Sheriffs. If I correct they are the chief law enforcement officer in any county including city police chiefs (technically speaking). How about they pull rank and tell the city that since they can't solve the problem and the problem is spreading into our non city areas, we are taking over. I know the LCSO is working more calls in the Lamar county portion of Hburg than HPD.

[Kitty]

The real solution to the crime problem could be found in our two outstanding Sheriffs. If I correct they are the chief law enforcement officer in any county including city police chiefs (technically speaking). How about they pull rank and tell the city that since they can't solve the problem and the problem is spreading into our non city areas, we are taking over. I know the LCSO is working more calls in the Lamar county portion of Hburg than HPD.

A law enforcement coup d'état. I like it! :smt038

[wilebill]

A law enforcement coup d'état. I like it! :smt038A friendly one like Thailand's. "Excuse us while we show your no-good, fat assed police chief how to run a law enforcement agency."

Well, more or less friendly. No gun play, anyway.

[Kitty]

Well, more or less friendly. No gun play, anyway.

According to some accounts, Wynn cannot carry a gun. Why is that?!?

[Bee Line]

I liked the part where Dupree wants to hire off duty officers from other cities/departments to work part time for HPD. Why would these officers want to work for HPD part time when they don't want to work FULL time for Wynn? HPD 's been TRYING to hire officers for years & not too many takers. Also, remember a lot of these outlying area officers used to work for HPD. They won't work for Wynn & after these guys tell their current co-workers why not, those guys won't come either. This "plan" is more window dressing. Hattiesburg circles the drain while Dupree stubbornly defends Wynn.:smt102

[firefly]

here it is:::

yes, i um police chief um is doing his job um as good as he can um we just all need um to get him some um ahhhh um donuts from shipleys....um i have no comment on ah what's going on even ah um it is behind the policeie station um i have a nice um house....uh let's ask ah fairley what i should be doin' um cuz i'm never ah here..... ROFL, CARSALEGUY, but oh so true!!!:smt118

[maxim]

I liked the part where Dupree wants to hire off duty officers from other cities/departments to work part time for HPD.

This is the kind of plan that might work if the HPD could depend on its good relations with the surrounding agencies. If HPD had the reputation of being squared away, willing and able to provide help to these agencies when requested, if HPD had the reputation for competent behavior and well-trained, experienced personnel at all levels.

Unfortunately, HPD's reputation is almost exactly opposite those ideals. While good people, dedicated people exist, the opinion of HPD today is that they are being prevented from doing their jobs by administrative meddling and saddled with the burden of trying to teach newcomers and rookies how to do the job effectively. They may also be burdened with some employees who were rejects from other departments, only too happy to see their gain in losing become HPD's loss in gaining.

This is a Plan that is easy to talk up but will most likely amount to nothing. If somebody kisses enough ass, there may be a photo op or two. The chances of any meaningful police work getting done as a result of this plan are negligible.

[Maggie-Doodle]

It all boils down to charging the parents. If you cannot control your child, maybe a LOT of community service for the child and parent along with a hefty fine and many parents will start doing a better job when they see it will come back on them. Our streets are nasty with litter and if they make momma start doing some cleanup she may keep the juvenile inside to keep her butt from working. Why are parents not held accountable for their children anymore? I'm sure an organization would step in and say this is wrong to do but maybe it is time to oust some of these groups too.

XC, I agree with your points but do not feel that giving a fine will work. One has to realize that the ones being fine DO NOT WORK, WHERE would they get the money to pay the fines? I would venture that 95% of them are on welfare...there are so many who claim they have a disability and would get out of doing anything anything manuel....like walking the streets to pick up trash...and what about those who have 2,3, 5, or more kids? There would be no place to leave the kids....you can be assured that DHS won't take them in...more times than not, they won't take kids who have been abused or abandoned...they advise the police to find relatives that will take them in...more times than not, the relatives are into the same crap (drugs, ho'ing, gangs) that the parent was in.
Most of the parents just damn well don't give a rat's ass what the kids do...the biggest majority only had the kids to enrich their welfare check!