The Red Bank community met with Lexington County deputies to talk about their concerns with crime in the place they call home.
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Hundreds of people gathered at Life Springs Worship Center. Over the past month, the community has been talking about some of the issues they see in their neighborhood.
Folks took to the mic to talk about what they're worried about in Red Bank.
“Is there anyway to let us protect our property because most of us can protect ourselves,” asked one business owner.
According to the department, there were 14 robberies in Red Bank. So far this year there’s only been three and they say the number is trending down.
The department says motor vehicle theft has trended up by one so far this year. In 2018, there were 98 instances. So far this year, there’s been 42.
Some say they are worried about the homeless population.
"We were coming home the other night and two of them jumped up in front of us naked,” explained one woman.
Another person says she worries about what kids are exposed to.
"We have kids walking up and down that road in the morning to the bus stop and it's ridiculous when you hear the kids, 'Oh, they're making meth,’” said one woman.
Deputies say they've cracked down on drugs in Red Bank, especially over the last year.
"We have drugs in Red Bank folks. They made over 223 narcotic cases. These are not misdemeanor cases. They are federal cases and above."
One man said he’s worried about the growth of population within the county and how the Lexington County Sheriff’s Department can keep up.
According to the department, 26,574 people lived in the Red Bank area. In 2010, that number grew to 37,018.
"How are you going to address the issue with people coming in you can't protect us now?” said one man. “We're being overrun."
Koon responded, “We're in a hiring crisis in law enforcement. Last year, more people left the profession than got in."
Lexington County Sheriff Jay Koon says they're working to hire more deputies for the department.
Currently they have 47 deputies on patrol in the West Region of the county which includes Red Bank.
Koon says the community has to come together and be on the lookout so they can make the area a safer place.
"Nobody knows your neighborhood like you do,” said Koon. “We can transform and do things together. We all have the same vision. We want a safe neighborhood right? So it takes everybody."
The Sheriff's Department says they will be taking the concerns the community gave tonight and start finding solutions.
Street Squad Lexington will keep you updated on what changes are made to Red Bank to improve safety and decrease crime in the area.