Preventative measures more pressing to safety of public than ministering during increase in rates of homicide

Homicide rates in Montgomery have reached an all-time high.

To combat this, the Montgomery police department reached out towards the Christian community in June to begin the Operation Good Shepherd program.

This program trains clerics in ways to approach their congregations with messages that speak against crime as well as how to respond at a crime scene or crisis when called to appear.

Montgomery taxpayer dollars were used to pay officers to train the clergymen as well as fund materials for the classes and supplies.

So far, local taxpayers have paid for 37 pastors to complete training in this program.

This money could be allocated towards programs that provide young men and women with coping strategies that circumvent criminal behavior, yet the Montgomery police department made a blatant violation of the requirement of the separation of religion and government to proselytize those affected by criminal behavior.

Ministering at a crime scene can be more hurtful than helpful to those who are suffering at the hands of a criminal.

Thirty-three percent of the homicides in the past year were drug-related, multiple offenders caused another 33 percent of homicides, 25 percent of the homicides were related to prostitution and 42 percent were robbery-related.

In an area where homicide rates are escalating at such a rapid rate, preventative measures are imperative to ending the cycle of the criminality that leads to homicide.