Retired U.S. Army Colonel Brock Wells looked at Selma’s crime and violence problem and responded like the military man he is; he’s calling for reinforcements.

Wells, the Dallas County Republican Party Chairman, drafted a letter and sent it to Secretary of State Colin Powell asking the for the secretary’s help for Selma.

“We’ve never had anybody come through Selma that would draw everybody, he would probably do that,” Wells said.

Wells said when most politicians come to Selma, it’s to garner support for their own motives, not to do what is best for Selma.

Powell, however, would not be in town to press forward with an agenda.

Rather, Wells is asking him to come to Selma and provide proof to the area’s youth that better things are achievable, that there is something more to the world than the other side of the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

“I don’t think our young people get to see that,” he said.

Wells posted copies of the letter to Gov. Bob Riley, U.S. Representative Artur Davis, and U.S. Senators Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions in hopes that they could use their influence to make sure the letter gets to the Powell’s attention.

“I faxed it to Senator Shelby’s office, they got really excited,” Wells said.

In the letter, Wells says Selma’s youth needs to hear from a different messenger.

“I feel this would let the young people see that you can be successful if you are willing to discipline yourself, set goals, work hard and hold yourself and other accountable,” he wrote. “To hear, see and meet a highly successful individual like yourself, Dr. Rice or Secretary Paige would do wonders for our city and its citizens, both black and white.” Now, all Wells has to do is wait and see.

“If they do accept, then the ball game starts,” he said.