Steve Mensing, Editor
♦ Saturday night and this morning the Rowan Free Press received several reports of gunfire in the vicinity of the 200 block of Brick Street (East Fisher Street). According to the information we received a drive-by took place. Someone fired on a Black male(s) walking in the area. Mercifully no one was hit.
I have inquiries out to several folks in the Salisbury Police Department to provide us more detail when available and we will post it on the Rowan Free Press. But I repeat no one was hit and no arrests were made.
People wonder how we obtain our crime news and often speedily. We have developed an open source network of folks living in various communities throughout the city and the county who inform us of criminal goings on. We also have many sources within the Salisbury Police Department and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office who keep us updated. We are in contact with retired officers who keep their thumb on the city’s and county’s pulse. Often times we have to piece details together from various sources and we fact check everything that comes to us.
Unlike some news sources who gloss-over or don’t report some violent crimes occurring in certain parts of the city because of a dire need to sell a “positive” image, we are not beholden city hall or to advertisers. Covering over or not reporting is not a good move because it puts people in harms way and fails to provide feedback that something needs repair. Sad to say Salisbury is a very dangerous place and its been that way for years.
From our understanding the string of four recent shootings were all gang-related, most of the young men shot or shot at appear to be “Blood” affiliated.
We’ve learned from reliable sources there was recent crack-down on the command staff of the very understaffed Salisbury Police. They must now show up for work in uniform instead of civilian garb and take to the streets when required due to shootings and armed robberies.
It is good to know our Rowan County Sheriff’s Office continues to back up our police during the city’s upsurge in violent crime and gang related activity. For years now the Sheriff’s Office deputies frequently show up at crime scenes and where needed. The solid connection between the two law enforcement agencies makes great sense because a large number of highly trained and experienced police officers wisely fled the Salisbury Police Department for the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office. Welcome back to your old beat for better morale and far better pay!
