The Selma Police Department has started a crime suppression unit in hopes of being more proactive rather than reactive.

The unit will be made up of investigators and K-9 handlers within the department and will focus on deterring crime. What Selma Police Chief Spencer Collier said makes a lot of sense. Basically, if the department can help prevent some of the crimes, there’s less for the patrol shifts to respond to, easing their workload.

He said the five officers that make up the unit will be tactical operators and certified SWAT. Collier said they’ll work anything from narcotics to surveillance — basically wherever they are needed that particular day.

This looks like a positive step in the right direction, especially after last week’s incident where a police officer was shot at. Collier said this may be the first of many changes as far as restructuring how the police department is handling its patrol staff.

The police department remains short on officers, so anything that can up efficiency, reduce crime and make both officers and citizens feel safer is a big plus in our opinion.