# data[].attributes.body
The Hattiesburg Police Department focuses on community policing, working closely with residents to prevent crime and solve problems. Officers build relationships through different programs and interactions, making neighborhoods safer. Some key strategies include educating the public on crime prevention, supporting neighborhood watch groups, increasing foot and bike patrols, keeping officers accountable, maintaining open communication with the community, and teaming up with other organizations like local businesses, nonprofits, and government agencies.

# data[].attributes.custom_properties.QpzE041M
“2025 DHA Annual Meeting Featuring Randy Wilson.” City of Hattiesburg, 18 Oct. 2018, www.hattiesburgms.com/hpd/community-policing/. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025. 

# data[].attributes.body
Bridging the Gap Initiative: The police department is launching a six-week program to connect with teenagers, especially those at risk. It’ll cover things like conflict resolution, domestic abuse awareness, and how the law works. The idea is to help teens feel more involved in their community and steer them away from crime and gangs.

Hiring More Officers: A new pay raise for officers started in April, making it easier to keep and attract staff. The goal is to have at least 107 officers by September. A new police academy starts Monday with 22 recruits, plus a couple of experienced officers joining soon.

Body Cameras Making a Difference: Since officers started wearing body cameras in 2015-16, complaints against them have dropped 88%, and the use of force has gone down 60%. The cameras help keep both officers and the public accountable.

New Police Station in Progress: The department is temporarily working out of a warehouse while their old building is mostly torn down and replaced with a modern facility. A tax increase from a few years ago is helping pay for it, and they’re trying to avoid borrowing too much for furniture and equipment.

Looking Ahead: The chief wants to have his leadership team fully in place by the end of the year. Overall, things are moving in a positive direction for the future of the department and the city.

# data[].attributes.body
The HAPA and the city of Hattiesburg are working on an art mural for Johnny L. DuPree Public Safety Complex. This mural is meant to show civic pride and really show the community that they care about public safety. This complex was finished in 2022. It includes a police station, municipal courtroom, and a community room. This complex focuses on accessibility and transparency, with the aim to strengthen trust between the Hattiesburg community and local law enforcement. This complex stands for a central hub for safety, justice, and public interaction in the city of hattiesburg

# data[].attributes.custom_properties.QpzE041M
“Open Call – the Hattiesburg Way | Hattiesburg Alliance for Public Art.” Hburgart.com, 2022, hburgart.com/call/hattiesburgway/. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.

# data[].attributes.body
Police get a bad name because of negative experiences that people have with them. The media talks about all the bad incidents and doesn't really talk about the good ones, the good outnumber the bad. Sometimes, a few bad cops make the whole department look bad, especially when people see videos of police being too rough or not treating people fairly. The news also focuses a lot on bad stories, which makes people trust the police less. In some places, there has been a long history of problems between the police and the community, so people already don’t trust them.

# data[].attributes.headline
What is so great about this Safety Complex?

# data[].attributes.subject
What is so great about this Safety Complex?

# data[].attributes.body
The city of Hattiesburg created the Public Safety Complex to bring police, fire, and emergency services together to improve teamwork and response time. It was meant to be welcoming to everyone to build a strong trust between public safety officials and the community. There is a public art project that was created to highlight local culture and Hattiesburg history. The goal is to make a safe space for people to connect.

# data[].attributes.body
Public policing has a huge impact on how much people trust the police and how safe a community feels. In Hattiesburg, programs like Bridging the Gap help officers connect with people, especially teens, so they feel like the police are there to help, not just to arrest them. Things like body cameras and better pay for officers also make a difference because they help build trust and keep everyone accountable. When people trust the police, they’re more likely to report crimes and work with officers to keep the community safe. Plus, having enough well-trained officers means faster response times and less crime overall. At the end of the day, when the police and the community work together, it makes Hattiesburg a better and safer place for everyone.

# data[].attributes.headline
Campus police different from state police

# data[].attributes.subject
Campus police different from state police

# data[].attributes.body
USM campus police and Mississippi state or local police do similar jobs but in different places. USM campus police mainly focus on keeping the campus safe, dealing with things like student safety, campus crimes, and university rules. They handle things like alcohol violations or checking on students. Mississippi state or local police, however, cover a much bigger are like cities or the whole state, and they deal with bigger crimes like violent crimes or traffic accidents. Both can make arrests and enforce laws, but USM campus police are more focused on things that happen on campus, while Mississippi police take care of a lot more people in a bigger area.

# data[].attributes.body
The sources I used are reliable sources. They are reliable because I got them from community and state base sources. These contain information about Crime rates and what the police in hattisburg are doing to build more community relations and make everyone feel safer.