Police community forum set for Thursday

THOMASVILLE -- A panel of community leaders will listen to citizens at a Thursday Thomasville Police Department forum and relay concerns to the sectors they represent.

Also, panel members will promote cooperation with police surveys that are to be included in Thomasville utilities bills.

The event is at 6 p.m. Thursday in the Jail-Justice Center conference room, 921 Smith Ave.

"Their main objective is to promote completion of the Thomasville police community survey so the police department can address community issues, problems and concerns," said police Sgt. Rachelle Denmark.

The surveys will appear in utilities bills in late March or early April, said police Chief David Huckstep.

Huckstep, police Capt. Ellis Jackson and Denmark will field questions at the event.

The survey also is available on-line at www.ThomasvillePolice.net, Denmark said.

"Valdosta State University developed the survey," Denmark said. "It is confidential and unbiased and will tell us where our strengths and where our weaknesses lie," the officer said.

Police want to remove walls and create open channels, Denmark said.

The Thursday panel will be made up of community leaders who are influential in various areas.

Individuals will represent the NAACP, YMCAs, city and county government, business, education and youth organizations.

"If we don't know what the problem is, we can't fix the problem," Denmark explained.

The forum will be recorded and televised on "Behind the Badge" on channel 6 on CNS cable television.