“The future is very bright:” Capitol Police receive positive feedback three months after CCID expansion

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – It’s been three months since the Capitol Complex Improvement District was expanded, doubling the Capitol Police Department’s coverage area.

This emerges from House Bill 1020, which takes effect on July 1st.

The CCID expansion gave the Capitol Police primary jurisdiction over 15% of Jackson. According to Chief Bo Luckey, patrolling a larger area comes with challenges, but it’s nothing the department can’t handle.

“The challenges are there, but the Capitol Police have been able to meet those challenges head on,” Luckey said.

The bill also allowed the department to hire 37 new officers. Officers are busier today than before, so the Capitol Police is actively working on a recruitment and retention program. Luckey hopes to have more officers on the streets in the next two to three months.

“We will continue to hire more officers to ensure the community is represented appropriately and efficiently,” Luckey said. “We will do everything we can to ensure that the citizens of Jackson feel safe and that the citizens of the state of Mississippi can once again be proud of their capital.”

Luckey says when he started there was uncertainty among community members and leaders, but that is no longer the case.

“The credit goes to the men and women out there who are on the streets every day and to my team under my leadership. They do great things for the community and do their jobs very, very well,” he said. We have had overwhelming success in communities and communities truly love Capitol Police.”

WLBT 3 on Your Side spoke with some Jackson residents. They expressed support for enlargement and considered it necessary.

“I personally think it helps with traffic. I think it’s about reducing crime because people are afraid of the Capitol Police,” said Lazonnia McDonald.

A big push for the department is working with other local law enforcement agencies.

“More officers on the scene is always good, and having more people out there … trying to provide security is great. “I would hope that our police and the Capitol Police would work together for the benefit of Jackson in the future,” said Susan Peaster.

Luckey believes the police department has a bright future as it continues to serve the capital.

“The future of the Capitol Police is that we continue to do what we set out to do, which is proactive, professional law enforcement,” he said.

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