Your safety and the safety of your loved ones continue to be my top priority.
This past week, during our regular work session, Police Chief Brian James gave us a "Violent Crime Update." The trends are promising, but I recognize that there is still plenty of work to be done. It is clear that the Chief’s strategic plan and community partnerships are beginning to show results.
For the first six months of this year, violent crime is down 17%.
- Criminal Homicide, Murder - 14%
- Aggravated Assaults - 5%
- Shooting into Occupied Property - 16%
- Shooting into Unoccupied Property - 66%
- Robbery with a Firearm - 35%
Additionally, police have seized 1,023 firearms, compared to 484 during the same time period last year. This represents a 111% increase in gun seizures. I know that these figures mean little to you if you and your loved ones don’t feel safe or have been a victim of crime.
Some of the initiatives and community partnerships that Chief James referenced are programs that I proposed such as the "Take Me Home" program and working with community groups like "Mother’s Against Gun Violence." I am proud to be working with the Chief and our NC General Assembly on legislation that will enable civilian traffic investigators. This proposal can save up 17,000 employee hours, which will allow our police to focus on more critical calls.
The increased wage structure is making us more competitive compared to our surrounding cities and towns, and it seems to have had an impact. Our next academy, in September, is projected to have 40 cadets. I made sure that we are be in a better position to retain existing GPD employees. I made sure that our non-sworn police department employees (CSI, crime analysts), veteran officers, and Guilford Metro 911 employees were added to the original wage proposal.
At last month’s work session on public safety, we reviewed the RTI International independent assessment of GPD. The report reinforced the success of our Behavioral Health Response Team (which my opponent originally opposed) and the Homeless Assistance Resource Team. The report concluded that GPD is a leader in developing innovative ways to better serve our residents.
Interestingly, our officers made the following observation: "Officers highly encourage City Council members to do ride-along’s in an active area during a busy time to better understand the issues that officers face daily and to foster collaboration for developing solutions to these issues." I am glad to say that I am one of a few council members who knows the benefit of ride-alongs; unlike my opponent, who questioned their value and the value of community conversations.
