Crime meeting: 'If you see something, say something'

About two dozen people came to a community meeting on Clovis concerns Thursday, over 50 people watched online, according to organizers.

The session at Community Church of the Brethren was organized by Josefita Griego, known for her Facebook page "Take Back Your Community" and Daniel Murrell, pastor of the host church.

Among the people who came to the session were Clovis Fire Chief Mike Nolen and Clovis Police Captain Robbie Telles, part of police chief Roy Rice's administrative team.

Griego stood before the group and urged citizens to get involved, to increase neighborhood watch programs.

"If you see something, say something," Griego said. She pointed out how many times people won't report things that need to be reported because they grew up with an old saying, "Snitches get stitches."

Telles spoke to the group, saying how many times he and Griego had gotten together and talked about how to deal with problems in the community.

Telles spoke of growing up in Clovis, "running around barefoot."

"I don't see the same streets here as when I grew up," Telles said.

Telles said the Clovis police department should have a new community resource officer soon.

"I read stuff on social media," Telles said. "I don't necessarily agree with what is said but it is our community."

Telles went on to talk about getting information to the police using the "Tip411" app, Crimestoppers or calling the police directly.

"You can remain anonymous when you call us directly," Telles said. "It takes all of us to say 'We've had enough.'"

Angela Ross told the group she hasn't been in Clovis quite one year. Ross told of having been a property manager in Albuquerque. Ross said part of her job was to get people out of apartments who weren't listed on the lease.

Ross asked Telles about having apartments or sections of apartment declared a nuisance.

Telles said the Clovis Police Department is working with the management of nuisance areas.

"We're here to put our heads together and come up with solutions," Murrell said.

Murrell chastised people who criticized people on social media.

"As a community we have to take care of our community," Murrell said.

Manuel Gallegos, known to some in the audience as a corrections officer with the Curry County Adult Detention Center and Roosevelt County Adult Detention Center called the community a family and urged the making of a strong community.

"If we truly care," Gallegos said, "There is no black and white, no Hispanic."

Clovis Fire Department Chief Mike Nolen said he was at the meeting to get ideas. He urged people who have ideas to come to him.

He said he wants to urge kids to "stay clean," not have a record to have a good labor pool in Clovis.

"If they get a felony on their record I can't hire them," Nolen said.

Nolen brought up the panic incident at the Curry County Fair Aug. 17 where the crowd stampeded that night for fear a shooting incident had begun.

"We had an active shooter plan," Nolen said speaking of law enforcement and emergency personnel in attendance. "We hadn't planned on such an incident starting with a fight."

Donald Sawyer, pastor of Legacy church and chaplain with the Clovis Police Department and Curry County Adult Detention Center, said, "For people who want help, ask for help."

Sawyer said trying to get people to care is impossible.

"People have to want to care," Sawyer said.

Murrell called for ideas to fight crime in the community.

One participant suggested installing cameras in neighborhood as she had seen in California.

Another person suggested banning troublemakers from neighborhoods.

A number agreed there are many people in the community "who want something done."

"We can make Clovis a better place," Griego said.

Griego and Murrell are planning another meeting in a few weeks.