Pocomoke Police officials talk how crime in the city has trended upward

POCOMOKE CITY, Md. – The area has seen violent crime, increase. According to Chief Arthur Hancock, it has been something that has happened in the last 18 months.
“We’ve seen about a 28% increase in gun-related instances over the past year-and-a-half.”

There have been 3 violent crimes in Pocomoke in just the month of November, and with the recent uptick in violence, residents are looking for answers.

Beginning on November, 6th, officers were alerted to the 700 block of Sixth Street for reported shots fired. Video seen on the Pocomoke Police Facebook page show two suspects wearing dark clothing and running to a treeline.

On November 16th, officers responded to Second Street for a reported stabbing. Police say the incident was isolated, with no immediate threat to the community.

On November 22nd, more shots fired on Sixth Street and the corner of Bank Street.

Pocomoke resident, Byren Motes, gave WMDT a witness account of one of the shootings. “It happened across down this road. It was beef about someone owed someone something, so someone got upset.”

He said things got even worse. “Beef broke out in the streets, and then one of them got shot,” said Motes.

Another resident, Sheila Sullivan, has lived in the city for a few years. She came from Baltimore City, and says her experience hasn’t been bad. “I don’t see Pocomoke being a really bad crime area, I do feel safe with my kids in the neighborhood.”

She said she notices the Police department has put up cameras on her street.

Pocomoke Chief of Police Arthur Hancock states that the department has taken measures offering officers unlimited overtime and collaborating with the Sheriffs and State Police to provide saturated patrolling.

“We have installed an additional 30 cameras throughout city limits with 30 different views, 4 different license plate readers, and a shot detector system.”

Chief Hancock said that they have already used the shot detection system. “The last that we had, an officer responded within 37 seconds.”