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Being Proactive jessie poole : chief of police, atoka
M story and photos by echo day
"Most of this was fields and woods," Jessie Poole, Atoka's police chief, says as he drives though one of the town's newer upscale subdivisions. "It's a lot different now, and a lot harder to patrol too." And he would know. As the town's first police chief, Poole began his career with the town in the mid-90s. Until that point, Munford's police officers and Tipton County deputies enforced Atoka's laws. Back then, the town was a lot smaller, it's population boom would take place a few years later, but he still had his work cut out for him as he established the new department. "I didn't even have a badge at first," he says with a laugh. "Inspector (Charles) Yoakum let me borrow his for four or five weeks until mine came in." In his early days as chief, there was an estimated 800 people living in Atoka, now there is an estimated 9,000. There was no school, no Kroger, no movie theater, very few fast food restaurants.
The town's recent growth certainly has its benefits – more residents means more tax revenue which increases funding for city services – but it also comes with its challenges. "(The increase in population) was difficult in terms of staffing and providing service to a population that grew at an alarming rate. We have a lot more people now and the size of our area is bigger and more difficult to patrol." He doesn't let it get to him, though. Instead, he faces difficulties head-on by being proactive. "I don't like to be reactive," he says. And he encourages Atoka residents to be proactive as well, as it can reduce crime in the community. "Neighborhoods are what people let them be. We can't put a police officer on every corner, so we rely on community policing and neighbors watching out for each other. We need them to be eyes and ears for us." He believes in community involvement and says when something like a playground
is installed in a community, its members take pride in and they get involved. He also encourages residents to be proactive when it comes to potential criminal behavior. Identity theft and computer crimes are happening more frequently, for instance, and Poole wants residents to take all of the steps they can to prevent them. "Protect your information the best you can," he says. Protection can come in many forms, whether it's putting a password on your wireless network, pay attention to who's handing your debit or credit cards when you pay for something, check your card usage very often. Other tips, he says, are common sense items, like securing your purse and being aware in your settings. The best thing? "If you see something that doesn't look right, say something. Let someone know." He also sees a lot of domestic disputes and arguments over child custody, but says he does Continued on page 54 ▸
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