Charlottesville, Albemarle, UVA announce new initiative to reduce violent crime

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WVIR) - Charlottesville, Albemarle County and University of Virginia police say they’re going to work together using new data technologies to address public safety concerns.

But it’s not just police fighting crime, it’s regular people too.

The effort, unveiled Wednesday, January 22, may start with police but they’re the ones saying they’ll need help delivering real results.

“The only way these numbers are going to go away, not just go down, go away is if the community embraces a collaborative effort to make it stop,” UVA Police Chief Tim Longo said.

Chief Longo was one of those on stage talking about the importance of Project Safe Neighborhoods and the impact it could have on Charlottesville and Albemarle County.

UVA Equity Center Executive Director Ben Allen says the goal of the initiative is to eliminate violent crime.

“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a regional collaboration between community leaders, community non-profits, local law enforcement and local governments to provide holistic support to community members in need who have been impacted by the issue of gun violence or community safety,” Allen said.

The plan is to use data to determine where violent crime occurs most in the city and county and provide alternative paths for people in those areas.

“It’s no longer just cast a wide net and see what we catch. We have the data, we have the metrics, we can pinpoint who’s responsible for this or that and then either offer them services or pursue another approach if involving any sort of criminal conduct,” Albemarle County Police Chief Sean Reeves said.

That includes services surrounding mental health, youth development, financial well-being and more.

“What this does from an enforcement standpoint... when folks don’t take those opportunities, well then we have expanded resources to then address it whether it be through federal grand juries, whether it be through other federal partners or state partners or local partners,” Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis said.

Charlottesville, Albemarle and the equity center are holding a community dialogue so the public has the chance to learn more about Project Safe Neighborhoods.

That meeting will be on Tuesday, January 28, from 5:30 p.m to 7 p.m. at Burley Middle School.

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