We are often reminded how fortunate we are to have a strong police department in Oxford. From officers to Chief of Police Joey East, we have a caring, engaged force always working to keep the community a great place to live and work.

Of course, it’s not always easy. Take Oxford’s signature Square, where the nighttime crowds keep growing, making the challenge for the Oxford police that much bigger. But Chief East and his team aren’t sitting back, they are constantly looking ahead, trying to find ways for better crowd control in order to provide safety for everyone.

If this seems like a small issue, you just haven’t been on the Square at 1 a.m. on a busy night when multiple bars close at once, with many sending 500 to 1,000 patrons out onto the streets. Others are so popular that lines form outside and the police don’t know who is in line waiting or who is loitering.

That’s why enforcing the law on the Oxford Square is a moving target, forcing Chief East and the Oxford Police Department to always be in the planning and problem-solving mode.

East is working with Oxford bars and restaurants to try and find solutions. We applaud the city’s forward-thinking and desire to keep the Square safe by controlling crowds as much as possible.

We also applaud Chief East and the entire Oxford Police Department for their engaged, forward approach to safety in the community.