To All Citizens of Mesquite,
Last night’s shooting on Baretta is another example of growing violence and crime in our community. While there are many wonderful things happening in our city and great progress taking place, the lawlessness we are seeing nationwide is happening here in Mesquite too often and we must rise to the occasion to take a greater stand against this trend. The total disregard for human life that took place in our city last night must be the line drawn in the sand for our city. While we thank God that no lives were lost last night, WE ABSOLUTELY CANNOT ACCEPT THIS AS STATUS QUO!
I want to assure you that our Police Department is exhausting all resources to bring those involved into custody. As a city council, we expect that those involved should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
The city council’s legislative priorities include seeking legislation to increase penalties for people who commit crimes with guns and those who recklessly fire them into the air. Too often we are seeing the same criminals back on the street after we have arrested them. THIS MUST STOP NOW!
We will continue to provide our police officers with the tools and technology needed to fight crime and track down those responsible for such heinous acts. We will also further strengthen our regulations on short term rentals to ensure they are the toughest in the nation and we will hold property owners accountable for the actions of people they allow to rent their property. We will also work even more strenuously and aggressively to recruit and hire the best and brightest men and women to come to Mesquite to help us build a safer city for all of our residents that can be a model for the nation. We will work nonstop to increase the numbers of officers who patrol our streets each and every day.
We must also to continue to build strong relationships and partner with neighborhood crime watch groups and residents while sending a strong message to criminals that they are not welcome in Mesquite. I am calling on all citizens to do their part to help be the eyes and ears of their neighborhoods, work closely with our police department, with each other and do everything possible to limit the opportunities of criminals. If you see something, say something.
We are a great city with great people who should not have to worry about violence where they live, sleep and raise their children. I along with the entire City Council and City staff commit to you, our ongoing dedication to making Mesquite a safe community to work, play and raise a family. WHATEVER IT TAKES!
-Mayor Bruce Archer