By Shavonne Walker
shavonne.walker@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Douglas and Mary Moses have lived in their Oak Ridge neighborhood for 20 years and say they welcome foot patrols from Salisbury Police officers. The couple, both of whom are retired from the U.S. Army, were visited Friday by officers who walked to their Oakwood Avenue home.

Douglas said occasionally they hear gunfire off in the distance, but “it’s fairly quiet.”

“I’ve seen days when we need more foot patrols,” he said.

Mary said it’s great that the police department is doing foot patrols. The neighborhood located near Wink’s Barbecue, was one of four neighborhoods that officers patrolled. The officers, which included Police Chief Jerry Stokes, Deputy Chief Shon Barnes, Capts. Melonie Thompson and Brian Stallings, Lt. Greg Beam and detectives Meredith Walker, Fred West and Rebecca Sexton.

Police officials said this is a continuation of last year’s foot patrols, which began as a pilot program in July 2017. It was in an effort to get officers in neighborhoods to engage the community, Barnes has said.

Corry Rankin moved to the neighborhood about a year ago.

“I think it’s a good thing for the community and the neighborhood in general and to make sure the neighborhood is safe,” Rankin said.

He also said it was a quiet place to live with friendly neighbors.

“It’s a peaceful neighborhood,” Rankin said.

Kiyah Reeves said she felt the foot patrols were a good idea and also said the neighborhood was quiet.

Officers also patrolled Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue/Cherry Street, Brenner Crossing, and West 13th Street. Some of the neighborhoods, Barnes said, they’ve had issues and other neighborhoods where they’ve never patrolled.

Contact reporter Shavonne Walker at 704-797-4253.