Late-night loitering downtown stretches the already-too-thin ranks of the Vicksburg Police Department, Chief Walter Armstrong said Thursday in comments to the Rotary Club after seven weeks on the job.

“There have been some fights and arrests made because of the overflow,” said Armstrong, adding the problem hours peak between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Staffing has been an ongoing challenge for the department. Armstrong said the department’s 68 patrol personnel are too often being pulled from duties outside of downtown in the evening hours to respond to an increase in complaints from downtown residents.

Armstrong, who was selected by the mayor and aldermen to replace eight-year Chief Tommy Moffett in early July, said he is working to increase his force’s ranks to 85 to 90. That’s the number deemed appropriate in a comprehensive study of police operations several years ago and a number Moffett consistently worked to reach.

Armstrong said he has talked about the situation with Robert Ware, owner of The Ware House at 1412 Washington St. — which the chief said appears to be creating the majority of the loitering problems. The chief said he’s also spoken with some people who have plans to open additional late-night businesses downtown to let them know what will be expected.

“We are making sure they stay inside establishments (or get) in vehicles to leave,” Armstrong said of his officers’ efforts to discourage loitering.

Armstrong suggested businesses close by 2 a.m. and beef up security by screening patrons and discouraging them from standing around in front of establishments.

“As far as we know, they’re supposed to be working toward that end,” he said.

Ware, who had multiple conflicts with the former administration and wrote a letter to the editor endorsing the election of Mayor Paul Winfield, is a major downtown investor. He said he’s been doing his part to reduce problems outside his business, which includes a sports bar and grill, a cocktail lounge and pool hall. The sports bar and lounge close at midnight on weekdays and 2 a.m. on weekends, while the pool hall is open until 4 a.m. seven days a week. He said off-duty Warren County Sheriff’s Department deputies are hired during peak hours to keep loitering to a minimum.

“We have two door people screening the guests as they come in making sure they’re of age. We keep two floaters, who are somewhat bouncers that keep an eye on the cleanliness of the property as well as the safety,” Ware said.

The Ware House is about the only late-night entertainment option along Washington Street since the June closure of The Loft, which was located just a block north of Ware’s complex at 1306 Washington St. Near the far north end of the Washington Street downtown district, The Biscuit Company bar and restaurant opened this year around the corner on Grove Street. It remains open until 2 a.m. on weekends.

Ware said he would love to see more of an entertainment district created along Washington Street, but added he knows it has to be done right if its to succeed.

“It has to be done in a clean, safe manner and temper the growth with the growth of the police department. If you have a decrease in police officers, you cannot increase nightlife,” he said.

For the time being, Ware said he’s going to continue doing what he can do to combat loitering, but he also expects the police department to step up its efforts.

“The administration needs to refocus attention on what they can do to control crime on the street, and I’ll do what I need to do to protect my property and my patrons. It is still very safe and clean downtown, but unless we have the foot patrol and the officers downtown that were promised during the campaign, it’s not going to work.”

Earlier this week, Winfield said owners of late-night businesses have some obligation to police the area immediately surrounding their businesses. He said the police force has, at most, seven to eight officers patrolling the entire 33 square miles of the city on any given night.

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Contact Tish Butts at tbutts@vicksburgpost.com