Chattanooga’s new Police Chief Bobby Dodd commendably is planning to keep our people safe and secure by sound action to “suppress” and “prevent” crime.
Our police officers know the “hot spots” around town where most of the serious crimes occur. The police also in many cases know “who” the people are who are committing many of the offenses. In many cases, there are a few small groups or “gangs” that can cause a great deal of the trouble.
So Dodd wisely has said he is doubling a five-officer crime-prevention unit to 10 officers – and soon will additionally work with four officers from Sheriff Jim Hammond’s office to suppress and prevent crime.
Police officers know that when they put surveillance pressure on some usual offenders, the criminals may just move to other areas. Dodd says he wants to be sure that won’t work for the offenders.
The Chattanooga Police Department is down 65 officers and about 40 more are eligible to retire, Dodd said. So he plans to add more officers to crime suppression duties to respond to emergency calls and head off crime problems where they may occur.
He says he plans to put “more officers on the street.” And that, he says, should bring progress in reducing crime and making our people safer.
Dodd deserves enthusiastic support in his fresh efforts in always challenging circumstances.