14-06-2025
Greensboro unveils five-year community safety plan to reduce violence
Greensboro, N.C. (WGHP) — The City of Greensboro is rolling out a five-year community safety plan aimed at reducing violence and getting more groups involved in the work.
City leaders said they're taking more steps to address violent crime not just with law enforcement but through community partnerships.
'One of the pillars of the safety plan is co-production … What that means is that we will continue to work together,' Greensboro Community Safety Department Director Latisha McNeil said.
Greensboro's five-year community safety plan was launched at the city's Peace on Purpose event.
It comes as the city faces harsh statistics. There were 274 homicides between 2020 and 2024.2023 alone was the deadliest year yet, with 74 homicides, and there were more than 5,800 gun-related aggravated assaults between 2020 and 2024.
'In looking at the stats from 2023, 2024. We recognized that we needed to have a holistic approach. It needs to go beyond just looking at law enforcement for public safety. We needed to have a community-driven response,' McNeil said.
McNeil said immediate action is already underway.
It includes expanding support for violence interruption, which is something Greensboro saw 119 times in 2024 and 48 times so far this year.
'That has been a key to really getting in communities that have high levels of crime and violence and interrupting those cycles with meeting those individuals who are at the highest risk, so what we'll be doing is enhancing those services,' McNeil said.
Right now, the city contracts with four groups for that work, but McNeil said they need more.
The plan also aims to connect older teens and young adults.
'Youth voice is going to be key, so we are bringing in young people between that 17 to 24 year age group, and they are going to be the directors of that engagement,' McNeil said. 'They'll be letting us know how we can best reach … young people.'
Transparency and accountability are also a big part of the five-year plan, which McNeil calls a 'living document.' The plan includes public meetings and progress check-ins.
'A year out, what success looks like for me is that we are coming back to the table as a group, and we are adjusting the plan,' said McNeil.
At the end of this month, the Greensboro Community Safety Department said it will start rolling out events where residents can speak up, learn more about violence prevention efforts and see how they can be part of the solution.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
