by Kim Gebbia
CLARKSVILLE, Tenn- Last week Clarksville Police wrote 438 citations in 8 hours. And Wednesday night they were at it again in the exact same neighborhood, hoping to send a clear message to a troubled community that crime won't be tolerated.
"Up here you get everything from drugs prostitution you name it you get it up here," said Officer Brad Holder about patrolling district two in Clarksville.
On Wednesday he had the help of nearly 30 patrol officers who launched an all out citation assault on Providence Boulevard. They are trying to make their presence known in a community with the highest violent crime rate in the city.
"What we hope to accomplish is hey, the police are out here and we mean business," said Chief Alonzo Ansley.
It's all part of an initiative under a 1.2 million dollar grant to help turnaround this part of Clarksville. They start with heavy traffic patrols on Providence Boulevard, an road where nearly 2000 accidents have been reported in the past few years. But, it doesn't end with traffic violations.
"Some of the world worst criminals have been brought in on a traffic stop," said Holder. Officers are running warrant searches on every car pulled over. Last week a man wanted in a series of burglaries was arrested during "Operation Defiance."
District two seemed an easy choice when searching for a blighted neighborhood in need.
It has the highest poverty rate, 47.1 percent, in Clarksville and the lowest median income of just 17,000 dollars a year.
And the area for Operation Defiance only makes up 1.5 square miles, but has the highest violent crime rate in the city.
"We are going to make a difference in this community we are going to cut down on violent crime, on drugs in this particular neighborhood," said Chief Ansley.
The effort doesn't end with officers. It includes working codes enforcement to clean up abandoned buildings and trailer parks. It also works with Goodwill industries to get adult education classes out to parents in the community. And students are targeted by the Girls and Boys Club to stay busy in after school activities and stay out of trouble.
For officers, it's just a small part in spreading the message that this neighborhood is on the brink of change.
"Something like this it spreads throughout the city, and I think it becomes very effective," said Officer Holder.
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