ATLANTA — Nearly 100 people brought crime concerns straight to Atlanta’s top brass.
Residents packed a room at Haygood Memorial United Methodist Church to ask the city’s new police chief, Erika Shields, questions about crime prevention in the metro area.
"The violent crime at gunpoint is really active right now so that has people a little nervous," Edwin Marcial who lives on the outskirts of Virginia-Highland, told Channel 2’s Nefertiti Jaquez.
Marcial said he's now forced to look over his shoulder after learning a number of residents have been robbed at gunpoint recently – all while walking around the neighborhood.
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"I just want to understand where things are (with the police department),” Marcial said.
Everyone else in the room felt the same way.
Shields took to the microphone to answer every question thrown at her. People asked if the city’s 8,000 police cameras and 130 license plate readers actually help her officers catch criminals.
"We have so many technological platforms available to us. The key is leveraging them and using them to their capacity. It's essential if we are going to continue to cut the crime rate,” Shields said.
Residents who were at the community meeting also are worried about the recent violent crimes being committed by repeat offenders.
“Lets’ take ownership, individually. Whether it's police department, DA's office, judges, jail -- where could we do better and make this system more reliable,” Shields told Jaquez.
The city's top cop admitted her department has some issues and needs to hire more officers.
Residents, like Marcial, told Jaquez they respect her position.
“I was impressed with the chief of police and the entire team. I think they're headed in right direction, so that gave me comfort,” Marcial said.