OPD Makes Presence Known in Newly Annexed Oxford Neighborhoods

By Alyssa Schnugg
News Editor
alyssa.schnugg@hottytoddy.com

While some Oxford services have not started in the city’s newly annexed areas quite yet, the Oxford Police Department started patrolling the 11-square miles when the annexation went into effect on Sept. 20.

OPD Chief Joey East said the Oxford Board of Aldermen approved the hiring of six police officers and one code enforcement officer to help cover the new area.

“We’re in the process of hiring,” East said recently.

Officers have been instructed to make their presence known in the new city areas.

“If they’re out patrolling and see a group of people, they’re told to park and get out and talk to people,” East said. “Let people know we are there.”

East said it will take time for the former Lafayette County residents to get used to seeing OPD patrolling.

“We run radar where the Sheriff’s Department doesn’t, so there are some differences that the residents will have to get used to,” East said. “But we’re out there and trying to talk to as many people as we can, pass out information about OPD and answer their questions.”

Some of the biggest changes for the new residents will fall under the city’s Neighborhood Code of Ordinances that county residents don’t have to abide by. For example, leash laws for dogs, keeping yards moved, not leaving trash cans at the curb and not parking on in the front yard.

“That will be our biggest obstacle with the annexation,” East said. “We are going to be reaching out to each neighborhood at a time and hold neighborhood meetings. It’s so much different than what it was like in the county.”

Residents in the newly annexed areas will have one year to comply to the codes, said Code Enforcement Office Jon Sossaman.

“We will be handing out flyers on our neighborhood ordinances,” Sossaman said. “Our goal is compliance. We hope to have everyone educated on the laws well in advance of the end of the first year (after the annexation).”

Sossaman said his office has started to field some calls from the newly annexed residents.

“Most want to know when the ordinances take effect,” he said. “Some (of the calls) have been about garbage cans and some on leash laws.”