‘Operation Purge’: West Memphis officials unveil new crime-fighting plan
WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — West Memphis is grappling with a surge in crime, and with Memorial Day approaching, city officials are taking proactive steps to prevent further violence.
Friday, West Memphis Police Chief Robbin Campbell unveiled “Operation Purge,” a new initiative to combat gang violence and restore peace to the community.
“Operation Purge is an initiative we started this past Tuesday at targets, one of the gangs in our community that has had a hand in the increase of uptick in crime and our community homicides recently,” Campbell said.
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West Memphis Police and Mayor Marco McClendon addressed community concerns Friday morning at City Hall, covering public safety and youth activities, and boosting patrols for the upcoming holiday.
“I’ve talked to a lot of the pastors along with them to step outside of the church walls,” he said, “because most of the young people doing this aren’t in the church.”
Campbell points to young gang members as the usual suspects behind the city’s surge in violence.
“We need more involvement from the community to help assist against gang and gun violence,” Campbell said. “The community needs to come forward and stop protecting these criminals. They know who’s committing the crimes. It’s their family members committing crimes.”
McClendon says he’s holding everyone accountable, including judges and prosecutors.
“I’m absolutely asking them to snitch,” he said. “But when it’s something like this where you’re taking a life, and it’s affecting your community where you live, and you know the next time it could be you and you want it to stop, why not tell to help us get that solved?”
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