ORANGE PARK – More than 25 residents attended the Gateway to Clay initiative meeting on April 24 to hear how the county plans to revive the Wells Road corridor. Although violent crime has been reduced by 40% compared to last year, according to Clay County Sheriff’s Office Assistant Chief of North Patrol Domenic Paniccia. He also said most property crime along Wells Road is driven by shoplifting and thefts at the Orange Park Mall and big box stores like Home Depot and At Home Store. CCSO also reported they use a lot of surveillance, tag readers and traffic cameras to help deputies respond in real time. Sheriff Cook said her agency will continue to help turn around one of the primary throughfares entering the county. She told residents her deputies chased a shoplifting for 45 minutes until they detained him. “If we don’t work together to take back the corridor, it will be easy, and I hate to say this, but we’ll lose it. I will say this: even when they commit a non-violent, we will carry their butts in jail.” The meeting also emphasized Fire Rescue’s Community Paramedicine’s proactive measures to curb drug abuse and overdoses, cleaning up the area, dealing with the homeless and creating social media that shares concepts and solicits suggestions.