Fall 2013
C I T Y O F W I L M I N G T O N P U B L I C I N F O R M AT I O N R E P O R T
In this issue:
Update on 5-year maintenance plan
Update on Gary Shell Cross-City Trail
WFD’s new firefighter memorial
Recycling outreach and education
City working hard to combat
gang violence
“ afety in our community is the city’s
S
greatest responsibility and we take
that very seriously. We will continue to
focus our efforts to address the issue
of gang violence.”
O
ver the last several months, the city has
taken several steps to prevent and reduce
the gang violence and robberies that have
recently increased after two years of dropping
crime rates. In addition, the city is currently
working to coordinate with other law enforcement
agencies and other community agencies to focus
their services on combatting the gang violence.
Funding for these initiatives comes primarily from
salary savings in this year’s budget, but additional
funding will be needed in next year’s budget to
maintain the expanded efforts.
– City Manager Sterling Cheatham
Following are highlights of the city’s most
recent efforts to reduce crime:
Gang Unit
New 5-member gang unit of specially trained
investigators who will not only arrest gang
members after they commit crimes, but
will also work to dismantle gang networks.
Full staffing
Authorization to hire and train 10 “over hire”
positions, which means 10 officers who will
be trained and ready to step into employment
any time there is a vacancy at the WPD,
instead of having to wait for officers to
complete the required training that takes
six months to complete.
Holiday Celebrations
Rotary Garden tree lighting
Thursday, December 5:30 p.m.
1941 Amphitheater Drive,
at Rotary Wheel
Note: This event replaces the
tree lighting at Sweeney Water
Plant and will include a holiday
movie to be shown at the nearby
Greenfield Lake Amphitheatre.
Details: wilmingtonnc.gov/greenfieldtree
New 14-man patrol unit in public housing
areas; the unit will be made up of seven
WPD officers and seven deputies from the
New Hanover County Sheriff’s Department.
Expanded patrols around city
Latest crime stats
Downtown tree lighting
Friday, November 29, 6 p.m.
Old Wachovia parking lot
Corner of Princess and
Water streets
Downtown holiday parade
Expanded housing unit patrols
• anuary - October, 2013: Violent crime
J
increased 22% compared to same period
last year
Sunday, December 8, 5:40 p.m.
Parade route: wilmingtonnc.gov/
holidayparade
• anuary - October, 2013: Property crimes
J
such as burglaries and larceny decreased
by 5% compared to same period last year
• PD intelligence reports attribute
W
increased violence to gangs
There are now 64 officers—32 from the
WPD and 32 from the NHC Sheriff’s
Department—who are providing expanded
patrols throughout the community.
Mobile Field Force
The MFF is a 12-officer unit geared up to
respond quickly to crime, or fear of crime,
anywhere in the city. The MFF became
operational last spring and consists of
two teams—one team of six uniformed
patrol officers and another team of six
undercover officers.
• ncreased violent crimes reflective of
I
national trends
Questions/Comments:
T 910.341.0833
NE WSLE T [email protected]
wilmingtonnc.gov/police