Jackson Police Chief makes public address to discuss recent shootings
JACKSON, Tenn. — Over the Memorial Day weekend, there were several incidents of gun violence in the Hub City. The Jackson Police Department held a press conference Wednesday to address their ongoing efforts in reducing crime.
Chief Thom Corley began the press conference stating that gun violence among the youth has been on the rise nationally. In recent years, JPD has seen many shooting-related incidents involving juveniles.
“Of the homicides our department investigated in 2024, at least five of them involved suspects between the ages of 15 and 21. Four of the homicides investigated this year alone have involved juvenile suspects,” Chief Corley stated.
Jackson’s Parks and Recreation Director, Tony Black, assures the public that the shooting that occurred in Kate Campbell Park was not related to any organized event.
“I just want our community to know that our parks are safe, and we’re working with the police department to ensure that each person in this city has a place that they can go and feel safe in,” Black said.
One of Chief Corley’s solutions to gun violence was having more officers patrolling.
“City parks are patrolled very regularly,” Chief Corley said. “We told the officers that if they’re not on a call, they need to be driving through their neighborhoods and the parks that are in their districts.”
JPD utilizes Flock cameras, Shot Spotters, and pole cameras to reduce response times and respond to reports of gunshots.
Several city parks are equipped with pole cameras, and Corley says the department will be instating 5 “e-bike” patrol officers across the city’s 20 parks.
“We’re going to continue to be out there,” Chief Corley said. “We’re going to enhance being out there in the parks and in the neighborhoods, because in the summer, again, I grew up walking around my neighborhood and playing in my neighborhood as a kid, and I want everybody to enjoy their neighborhoods, so we’re going to be in the neighborhoods as well.”
Chief Corley stated that the youngest juvenile involved in the Kate Campbell Park shooting was 13-years-old. At this time, six victims have been treated and released, and one remains hospitalized.
The Jackson Police Department urges the community to come forward with any information they may have as it relates to the Old Hickory Boulevard and Kate Campbell shootings.
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