What started out as a well-intentioned update to some key city officials and community leaders by Mayor George Evans, Selma chief of police William Riley, fire chief Mike Stokes and others Thursday turned into a raucous discussion that quite honestly highlights some of the problems in Selma.

Thursday’s update was to provide those in attendance an overview of what the city, police department and fire department were planning to do to battle the increased violence in the city.

Instead, what the meeting turned into was a back and forth that provided little in the way of updates and far too much in the way of finger pointing, random useless comments and touchy feelings among those in attendance.

We not only applaud Evans, Riley and Stokes for taking the time to call the meeting — something they did not have to do — and taking what many believe are long overdue steps in cracking down on the crime in certain parts in our city.

But, while we applaud those city leaders mentioned, we wonder and question where some other council members and key leaders were.

Were they just a little too busy to make time to listen to the mayor, chief of police and fire chief? Was something more important than taking an hour out of their day to come listen to the measures being taken to provide for a safer environment for Selma’s citizens and guests? Was it simply too much to ask for them to take time out of their busy schedules to support the mayor and public safety leaders?

For these measures to work, for us as a city to have an effective effort to battle crime, it is going to take a united, consistent attack. It is going to take each of us, working together to sound off in one voice that we have had enough when it comes to violent crime.

We stand behind the mayor and others leading this effort and call on those who couldn’t find the time to join in Thursday to rethink their priorities and join the effort.