Ellington

The 39th Basic Police Recruit Class will begin Monday, September 20, 2004. All recruits will report to the Jackson Police Department's Training Academy located on St. Charles Street Sunday, September 19, 2004 at 1:00 p.m.

Thirty-five recruits will attend the fourteen-week police training, and upon successful completion, this recruit class will take the Jackson Police Department over the 500 sworn officers mark for the 1st time in the city's history. The total number would then be 510 sworn officers. With the reserve officers, new recruits and current officers the number increases to 557 sworn officers.

Chief Moore has already begun to set the testing dates for his next recruit classes. The next testing date will be October 22, 2004. Applications for this class will be taken up until one week prior to the testing date. The next two classes are scheduled for May 15, 2005, and September 18, 2005.

Phase II of the Jackson Metro Parkway Slated to Begin

The Jackson City Council accepted a bid for more than $6.2 million to begin construction of Phase II of the Jackson Metro Parkway. This phase of the Parkway will begin where Phase I ended at Dalton Street and continue to Gallatin Street, bridging Downtown, Jackson State University and West Jackson.

This phase of the Parkway, like the first phase, will have sidewalks, walking/bike trails and lighting. The construction time for Phase II is set at 15 months. Construction should begin in about a month. Phase I of the Parkway runs from Wiggins to Dalton.

Last week, the email regarding potholes generated a few responses and we thank you for your input. Some of you asked about other major road projects. I'll list a few that are currently underway, in the planning or design stages or will soon be underway. They are: Pascagoula Street, Pearl Street, Fortification Street, Woodrow Wilson Drive, Mill Street, Medgar Evers Boulevard and West County Line Road. Stay tuned in the weeks ahead for more exciting details about these major arteries into our Capital City!

Jackson Hosting National Police Shooting Championship

The National Police Shooting Championship will begin on Monday, September 20, 2004, with an opening ceremony at 7:30 a.m. The warm-ups for the matches will begin on Sunday, September 19, 2004 at the Jackson Police Department Firing Range at 1005 E. McDowell Road.

Hundreds of law enforcement officers from all over the United States and from several other countries will compete in this event in Jackson.

See Illegal Dumping? Help Us Out!

Persons caught illegally dumping debris can be taken to Environmental Court where they can be fined up to $1,000 and receive up to six months in jail. To report illegal dumping, call 960-1193.