Community meeting addressing increase in gang violence set for Tuesday

SIKESTON — A community meeting to address the increasing violence in Sikeston has been planned for Tuesday night.

Sikeston Department of Public Safety Director James McMillen sent a letter or Sikeston residents inviting them to the meeting, scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Lincoln University, 214 Lincoln University, in Sikeston.

“I’m sure many of you have heard the gunfire that is occurring almost daily,” McMillen said in the letter. “I have been working to make our residents aware of this fact and I want to hold a community meeting with the help of Lincoln University...”

McMillen said his hope is to make everyone aware of the violence occurring in the streets of Sikeston. In the last month, there have been shootings in the areas of Clayton, West Gladys, Murray Lane, John R. Boulevard, East Kathleen, Branum and others.

“It is my commitment to share this information so you can take steps to best protect yourself and your families,” McMillen said. “I also want to have a discussion and ask what I can do as a leader of our local police department to better address this violence. In this meeting, let’s see how we can work together as community partners to help combat the problem.”