By JEFFERSON WEAVER
Staff Writer

An angry mother took the Whiteville City Council to task Tuesday over safety concerns in the central Middle School area.

In a heated and sometimes sarcastic exchange with the council, Tonya Hammond told the board “something must be done” about violence and alleged drug dealing within a stone’s throw of Central.

Two shooting incidents and a murder occurred close to the school this year, and Whiteville Police have made numerous drug arrests in the neighborhood and a nearby park.

Hammond, whose son attends Central, said she sees “drug deals going on all the time” when she takes her son to school.

Most of the activity centers around one house on the street, she said. Hammond said she has talked in depth with Whiteville Police Chief Jerry Britt about her concerns.

“The council needs to fund him another drug officer,” she said. “I think it’s your responsibility to do something about the problem…how would you feel if your child caught a bullet?”

Hammond said the illegal activities are brazen near Central, and a police officer told her there was nothing that could be done.

“Everybody knows what’s going on there,” she said. “You should drive out there and see for yourself. It goes on every morning – you see them standing there on the curb, and a little bag of drugs over to the hide.”

“Most drug dealers I’ve seen weren’t such early risers,” Councilman Harold Troy quipped.

Hammond contacted several of the council before Tuesday’s meeting, and the conversations apparently weren’t very cordial.

Several council members chided Hammond for her behavior, while others said they never received a call from her.

“In your statements to me,” Councilman Jimmy Clarida said, “you said the council is sorry…that type of behavior is rude and unnecessary.”

Clarida said he understood Hammond is upset and frightened for her child’s safety, “but that type of attitude accomplishes nothing.

“If you’re seeing all this activity,” Clarida said, “then you should dial 911.”

“If you suspect something illegal is going on,” Councilman Howard Jones said, “then you should be in the chief’s office talking to him.”

Hammond praised the police department’s efforts, but said she understands the department is short on manpower. She suggested to the board that they consider closing the park.

“There’s gang activity there,” she said. “There’s shootings there. You have to do something to protect the children.”

Troy, who works closely with the non-profit DREAM center near both the school and park, said closing the park is not the solution.

“We have a lot of good people who use that park,” he said. “We use that park for (activities) at the DREAM center. Closing the park would not be financially feasible, and it would punish the good people in that neighborhood.”

Troy also downplayed the alleged drug sales, but said residents are trying to organize an effort to reduce crime in the area. He also said most of the problems are caused by students from Whiteville High School, not residents of the neighborhood.

“The residence you’re talking about is just a gathering place,” Troy said. “People gather there to socialize, play checkers and cards, that type of thing. They aren’t there to sell drugs.”

Mayor Dial Gray said he hires temporary laborers from the neighborhood, and he has spoken with several of those at the “gathering place.”

“They tell me the drugs are coming from Whiteville High,” he said. “They tell me the problems aren’t from the neighborhood, and I believe them.

“You’re pointing a finger at a whole neighborhood,” he said, “and I’m telling you of two who tell me they aren’t involved.”

Britt said he hopes the city’s new drug dog will be able to help curb drug problems in the Central area, and he is searching for funding for an additional narcotics officer. He also pointed out that in each reported incident in the area, “we have made an arrest.”

“We’re doing our best,” he said. “We want to have the environment as safe as possible for school children and their families.”

“We know there are drugs being used and sold in the area,” Troy said, “and I know the police are doing all they can, but it takes more than just that. People have to be willing to call the police if they see criminal activity.”

Troy also referred to a Tom Cruise science fiction movie about futuristic law enforcement.

“In that movie, they could somehow predict when a crime would take place,” he said. “The last I checked, we don’t have that ability.”

Troy also chastised Hammond for her criticism of the council and the neighborhood.

“I’ve never seen you on our side of town,” Troy said. “People don’t realize we’re working hard to come up with some creative solutions to these problems.”

The council tabled discussion of the problems until a future meeting.