Derma resident Andrea Corbitt talked to the Board of Aldermen about two breakins at Daniels Temple Church over the past few weeks.
Corbitt said she was asking for the police department to make more of an effort in investigating crime in the community.
She said that Daniels Temple, on Hamilton Street, was broken into on July 13-14 and again August 5-6. No arrests were made.
Andrea Corbitt
Corbitt said that significant damage was done to the structure of the church with broken doors and windows, but nothing was found missing.
Corbitt said that blood was found at the scene along with a bottle of water and two hammers that were used to break in to other areas of the church.
She said she was told that Derma didn’t have capability to process the evidence.
“It seems that minimal effort has been made,” she said. “If we don’t have the ability and motivation to investigate crime scenes, we are heading into a dark place.”
She questioned why the evidence was not “processed.”
Mayor Dock Gabbert assured Corbitt that there was an investigation and suspects were interviewed.
Alderman David Martin suggested to Corbitt that the church install a security system.
“We put cameras up at our church and it helped a great deal,” he said.
In another matter, the board set the sale of land for unpaid taxes for Monday, Aug. 27 at 8:30 p.m. They also set the budget hearing for Tuesday, Aug. 28 at 6 p.m.
The board also approved:
•Court Clerk Training in Jackson in September and Rural Water Training in Tupelo in October.
•The lone bid of Renasant Bank for town depository for next two years.
•Applying for a $150,000 small city grant.
•Resignation of part time police officer Latana Williams.
•Clerk Deneen James reported bad debts to the board– Jimmy Hester, Joshua Blakeny and Randy Young.
Alderwoman Aretha Herrod was not at the meeting.