The task force organized by Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson deserves a round of applause for their recent efforts to rid Selma’s streets of crime.

The evidence of their work can be seen in the daily arrest reports from the Dallas County Jail, which has seen an increase over the past few weeks.

The task force is made up of law enforcement officers from local, state and Federal agencies, including the Fourth Judicial Circuit Drug Task Force, Alabama State Troopers, U.S. Marshals, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Department, Selma Police Department and others.

The task force has arrested around 20 people in the past two weeks that were wanted for violent crimes, drugs and probation violations, among other charges.

Their arrests are helping speed up the judicial process and addressing a backlog of outstanding warrants.

While their efforts should be applauded and are making a difference in Selma, there is still more work that needs to be done to stop the violence that happens in the Queen City.

More patrols are needed in crime heavy areas, and more officers are needed on shorthanded staffs.

But it’s not just the Police Department and the Sheriff’s Department that can make a difference in the community. The people of Selma can also help. Citizens shouldn’t just stand by or look the other way when someone breaks the law. They should report it to help law enforcement do their job more efficiently. Without our help, law enforcement can’t help reduce Selma’s crime rate.

We are all in this together, so let’s applaud the officers on their hard work and cheer them on as they continue to do what needs to be done — stop the violence.