MACON, Ga. — With 2019 now in the rearview mirror, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office is releasing its end-of-year crime statistics, which shows Bibb County has made progress in a key area: homicides.
In 2018, Bibb County had a near-record breaking 42 homicides. That number dropped to 25 in 2019, for a more than 40% decrease year over year.
Make no mistake though, people in Macon-Bibb still felt the impact of killings in 2019.
“You're not safe out here. You don't know when you'll get caught in the crossfire of a bullet just getting a pack of potato chips and a soda. I am VERY angry,” said Jacqueline Anthony.
“I have children and grandchildren that are coming up in this community and I want it to stop. I don't want them to be a victim of gun violence,” said Tammie Chin.
What does Sheriff David Davis attribute the large drop to?
“I think it's enforcement efforts on our part. We've made some strategic arrests, we’ve put the word out there that this violence and law breaking…we want to put a stop to it,” said Davis.
He was also quick to give credit to people outside of his department too.
“[I’m] very proud of the community quite frankly for helping us drop that number down because the community bears a great deal of credit and responsibility in helping us lower that number,” said Davis.
As for those who might find themselves on the wrong side of the law in the new year, Davis has a message for them.
“This impulsiveness, this not thinking, this getting your feelings hurt, wearing your feelings on your sleeve with a gun in your hand and using that gun is not a way to solve a problem,” he said.
Davis also noted that his agency is between 100 and 150 deputies short of a full staff, which puts a strain on resources, but he says the deputies who are there will get the job done.
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