As if the city of Jackson didn’t have enough publicity, be it good or bad, it is guaranteed to attract viewers all across the world soon, some citizens say.
On Tuesday, the Jackson city council voted unanimously, with the exception of Ward 3’s Kenneth Stokes who was absent, to allow cable network station A&E to film the Jackson Police Department as they investigate homicide cases in their series, ‘THE FIRST 48™.’
According to the show’s website, THE FIRST 48™ follows detectives from around the country during the first critical hours as they race against time to find the suspect. Gritty and fast-paced, it takes viewers behind the scenes of real-life investigations with unprecedented access to crime scenes, autopsies, forensic processing, and interrogations.
Jackson police spokesman Lt. Jeffery Scott said producers of the show contacted him.
“They saw some stories about what we’d done and our clearance rate which is about 78 percent,” said Scott. “We would be the smallest city they would film in and we’re just honored to be able to compete with the larger cities,” Scott said.
He added, “This show would be a good moral booster for the city of Jackson because of the clearance rate and bringing justice and closure to the victim’s family.”
But some Jackson residents disagree. Jackson native Terence Williams is one of them.
“As a Jacksonian, I think the new council and mayor should have been allowed to vote on this. I am not in favor of this because we do not need to be humiliated in order to know we have a crime problem,” said Williams. “We already know we have a crime problem. I think this show will encourage people to murder other people in order to gain some type of fame on a popular national TV show.”
But Scott said the exact opposite.
“Jackson has a problem coming forward and giving police help on solving these crimes,” said Scott. “Every city this show is filmed in has had an increased number of people that come forward. This will help people come forward and help JPD solve these crimes faster.”
Scott also added that the show would show how hardworking the men and women who are a part of the force really are.
Exactly when the show will begin filming is unclear, as well as when the Jackson episodes will air due to contractual restrictions.
For more information about the show THE FIRST 48, visit the website at www.aetv.com/the_first_48
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