A lot has happened in Ward 8 since the last Weed and Seed steering committee meeting.

Selma Police Chief Robert Green delivered his law enforcement and community policing committee reports at the quarterly meeting on Wednesday in Selma City Council Chambers. According to Green, crime continues to be dispersed in Ward 8, Weed and Seed’s target area.

Weed and Seed is a program created by the U.S. Department of Justice. The program targets crime, gang activity and drug use and trafficking in neighborhoods affected by high rates of violence. Weed and Seed focuses on reducing negative elements in Ward 8 through prevention, intervention and treatment services.

Green noted that crime in Ward 8 has impacted two officers in his department. Sgt. Johnny King was hurt in an accident and can’t work for about five weeks, according to Green. Green declined to name the other officer, who is able to continue work on a limited basis.

The police department has received drug complaints from Ward 8, which has led it to work with the Alabama Beverage Control Board, though Green’s department has had difficulties, he said. Green added that officers continue to make street-level purchases.

Green also spoke about Gov. Bob Riley’s release of approximately 7,000 inmates from Alabama prisons. The felony offenders will be released into the community and continue breaking the law, Green said. &uot;We’re dealing with the same people over and over again,&uot; Green added.

According to Green, downtown clubs are part of the crime problem. &uot;If not for the clubs, I think the crime rate would be substantially lower,&uot; Green said.

Citizens must become involved in programs such as Community Watch to curb crime, Green said. &uot;Citizens are going to have to take a more active role,&uot; he added.

Citizens became active in the past when a rash of home invasions occurred, Green said. However, when the invasions stopped so did the citizen participation. &uot;Crime prevention is the responsibility of the entire community,&uot; Green said. &uot;We’ve got to get people involved.&uot;

In other matters the steering committee:

Approved a request to extend the Weed and Seed program for another six months. The extension requires no additional funds, but approval is needed from the Justice Department.

The program would have ended May 30, 2004, without the extension.

Approved a request to send five people to a law enforcement training seminar in Buffalo, N.Y., scheduled for May 17-20, 2004.