MASON CITY – Mayor Bill Schickel took two approaches to making crooks feel unwelcome in Mason City this week.
Schickel appointed Councilmember Will Symonds as technology liaison to the Mason City Police Department.
The position was created by the City Council in May when new crime enforcement technologies were also approved by the council.
The enforcement tools include gunshot detection, license plate readers and video cameras.
“Will has a technology background and will be a huge asset in this position,” Schickel said. The council resolution calls for Symonds “to report back to the mayor no less than yearly on the status of implementation of these new technologies in the department.”
The position addresses concerns about privacy while also giving law enforcement strong crime enforcement tools, Schickel said.
Then Schickel went a step further, telling crooks and baddies “The message is very simple. If you are engaged in criminal activity, stay out of Mason City.”
Did Bill sneer like Clint Eastwood when he made the quote? We don’t know.
