Our View Crime must be dealt with in West Memphis

Our View Crime must be dealt with in West Memphis

The infestation of the criminal element that is causing such a negative impression of West Memphis is seriously hindering any and all efforts on the part of city leaders to convince onlookers, potential newcomers or prospective investors that this county’s largest municipality is moving in the right direction.

From the recent and highly publicized burglary of the AT& T store near Walmart, the shooting near McDonald’s on Missouri Street, the gang shooting at a car wash and Laundromat near the Big Star grocery store on Broadway and now the injury of a police officer and fatal shooting of two suspects on North 18th Street, clearly shows there is a criminal infestation problem.

And again, let’s make it vividly clear that the officers with the West Memphis Police Department are doing their absolute best to fight this seemingly winless battle but find themselves becoming victims.

Such a very negative situation makes the good and law abiding citizens of West Memphis question why they are living among this element. The question onlookers are saying to themselves is just exactly what incentive is there for them to subject their families to this growing number of gun toting gang members, drug dealers burglars and armed robbers.

A considerable amount of spin has been placed on responsible city and community leaders to paint West Memphis as progressive city that offers cultural amenities, good schools, excellent municipal services and recreational resources.

Unfortunately, every attempt to improve the quality of life in West Memphis is overshadowed by a growing population of degenerates that have absolutely no respect for themselves or anyone else for that matter.

A great example of this is evident in this recent killing of two suspects on the evening of January 17. If they had simply obeyed the commands of the West Memphis Police Officers and had not attempted to cause harm they would be alive today.

These criminals, thugs and law breakers have no respect for human life as in the case of the armed robber who recently robbed a pizza store in West Memphis and shot the employee. Or, how about the two thugs who fired at a woman who refused their advances near the McDonald’s restaurant?

Let us point out that this serious erosion of West Memphis didn’t occur all of a sudden and in fact this slow deterioration has been going on for several years. West Memphis has attracted this criminal element by providing incentives for them to infiltrate the city’s public housing, private property owners encouraged to make profits off of government housing subsidies and other contributing factors.

Over the years West Memphis has experienced an exodus of community leaders, business people and middle class families due to this growing criminal element that propagates gang activities, drug dealing and gun violence.

From a purely economic standpoint the situation West Memphis is experiencing has led to the demise of several businesses that once lined Broadway and Missouri Streets. The businesses that do thrive in West Memphis cater solely to the growing number of low-income residents struggling to survive off of government subsidies.

It is very obvious that while there are those within the city attempting to make a difference their good deeds and efforts are being diminished by a force that is dangerous, very destructive and is strangling a city trying to survive.