VIDEO: Crime is Down in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Miss. (WCBI)- Crime is down in “the friendly city”. A new report shows a slight decrease in the Columbus crime rate.

The numbers are hard for some people in Columbus to believe.

“It’s very surprising to hear that everything that was going on and taking place here… I’m just very happy that the crime rate is starting to go down,” says Columbus resident Pastor Monica.

“Columbus is/has a bad reputation, but I feel like everybody’s doing a good job. You know there’s a lot of stuff that’s making the news…”, says Columbus business owner Christopher Lick.

Stuff such as, the shooting outside the Princess, the kidnapping in the Leigh Mall parking lot, and the shooting at Ok Foods.

“There have been a few key arrests made and that’s probably helped slow some things down. But also, calls from the citizens, you know, help that we’re getting throughout this city,” says Chief Oscar Lewis.

Police Chief Oscar Lewis says residents and officers are to thank.

“We’re continually working hard and doing everything that we can, and hopefully the citizens keep calling in tips and information and helping us, basically taking a stand and helping us take their communities back as well,” says says Lewis.

Lewis says there isn’t just one reason there is a decrease in the department’s monthly report for March.

“Putting in the time, doing the investigations, officers out there working diligently, stopping and questioning people to get the information if something’s looking suspicious, it just takes time,” says Lewis.

CPD says there were 22 burglaries in the month of March- that’s down from the 51 reported in January and 29 in February.

Investigators are looking into one case categorized as sexual battery or rape- there were 5 in January and 4 in Febraury.

Residents are thankful.

“All in all I think they’re doing a good job with getting the police force up and we’re seeing a lot more presence downtown, so I can believe it,” says Lick.

“I’m just elated, that it’s gone down. I’ve been here 9 years and I’ve seen Columbus grow to be an awesome city and you know when the crime rate started going up I thought, ‘oh my God.’ I could feel much safer, you know, walking around at nighttime, take nice strolls again, you know, feeling safe,” says Monica.

41 cases were assigned to investigators in March, with 11 felony arrests.

Lewis says people who live in the city should help officers.

“That’s the only way we’re gonna be successful-if they see something say something,” says Lewis.

Seven officers were sworn-in at tonight’s city council meeting…making 52 on the force.

Councilmen also approved hiring three additional policemen.