Clovis officials discuss concerns about crime rate
Aug. 20—Concerns about what a number of Clovis residents believe is a rising crime rate was a topic of discussion at Thursday's regular session of the Clovis city commission.
Clovis chief of police Roy Rice presented what he called an "update in crime statistics" for the city in response to social media talk and voiced concerns about a "crime problem" in Clovis.
Rice said there has been an increase in violent crime and youth crime. He said property crimes are decreasing, sexual assaults and robberies are down.
One type of incident that concerns area residents is the "shots fired" incidents along with recent homicides, five, all involving firearms. Rice said 2004 was the worst for homicides in Curry County, there were 13 that year.
"We looked at areas where shots were fired," Rice said. "We came up with times, dates and locations and increased patrols accordingly."
Rice said with a population of over 38,000 in Clovis the city has an officer for every 789 people.
Rice said the best way to fight crime is community involvement. He pointed out increased patrols and community involvement resulted in one "hot zone" dropping to just one call in two weeks.
Rice noted the problems with social media as the source of rumors.
"When you start hearing rumors, ask questions," Rice said. He made reference to another recent rumor about 20 FBI agents in town as an example of rumors. "I can assure you FBI agents were not here," he said.
Rice spoke of Wednesday night's incident at the Curry County Fair in which some people there allege they heard shots fired while law enforcement personnel report no shots were fired.
He pointed out people had been worked into a frenzy over rumors.
"When you start riling people up they start seeing things, hearing things," Rice said.
Rice said one way that social media rumors may be dealt with is turning social media rumors over to the district attorney and have the rumor originators testify before a grand jury.
When Rice was done members of the audience came to the speaker's podium to address the commissioners.
One area resident, Leonidas Masman, called for Clovis Apartments to become a "gated community." The apartments have been the scene of shots fired incidents where a wounding and a homicide by shooting have taken place.
Gerri Dawson called for a town meeting, Bonetta Hutson said, "We need to get the facts, we need to be more involved."
Daniel Murrell, pastor of First Church of the Brethren said, "Nothing will change until people care. Let's make people care."
Javier Salazar pointed to poverty as the problem saying, "What breeds crime is poverty."
In other business at the commission meeting the city's "Yards of the Summer" awards were announced. There were two categories: Regular yards and xeriscaped yards.
The district 1 yard was 411 Remuda, xeriscaping award went to 3412 Lew Wallace.
The xeriscaping award for district 2 went to 1508 Claremont while another award went to 417 Kingston.
District 3's regular landscaping award went to county commissioner Bobby Sandoval and his wife Teresa's house at 1620 Laura Lane. Xeriscaping award for district 3 went to 825 Perdue.
District 4's regular landscaping award went to 2309 Wallace while the district xeriscaping award went to 309 Prairieview.
Commissioners also handed out awards for commercial properties in the city. Prairie Lake Veterinary Clinic at 605 Arizona St. picked up the award for regular landscaping while Citizen's Bank's main office at Pile and Fifth streets won the commercial award for xeriscaping.
The presentation of an eagle award to city fire department employee Edward Guajardo was made by Mayor Mike Morris and fire chief Mike Nolen. Guajardo, a fire driver operator for the department, has been with the fire department for 20 years.
