Mt. Vernon police rolled in a mobile command center and stepped up patrols in the city?s south side Thursday in response to two recent street shootings. The new mobile command center, which has been set up in one of the city?s most troubled neighborhoods, is part of a plan to crack down on crime on the south side.

Shomari Knox, 19, was killed Wednesday in what was the city?s seventh murder this year. It was also the second killing in less than a week. Police Chief John Roland says officers need the public?s assistance to find the gunman in Knox?s killing and stop the growing violence in the area.

"We're reaching out to the community first and foremost," Roland says. ?It's important to reach out to the community, solicit their support and help."

But some young people on the south side say that the increased police presence is long overdue.

Police Commissioner David Chong says the new command center, equipped with a mounted camera that monitors West 3rd Avenue around the clock, is a symbol of the department?s commitment to curbing crime in the city.

The mobile command center will remain in place through at least Monday as police continue to search for Knox?s killer. Police plan to continue the illegal gun violence crackdown at least until the end of the summer.