DETROIT (WXYZ) — Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield and other community leaders announced on Monday the creation of the Office of Neighborhood and Community Safety.
"Today, we take another bold step toward making Detroit a more safe city, not just through enforcement, but through prevention, partnership and community," Sheffield said.
Watch Whitney Burney's video report below:
The new office, which the mayor says was born out of collaboration, aims to help prevent violence across communities. It will act as a centralized hub for Community Violence Intervention programs, new crime prevention efforts and a survivor advocacy program. Officials say it will also focus on reducing domestic violence at the neighborhood level through conflict resolutions and restorative practices.
Related:
- Domestic violence is a core target of Detroit mayor's new community safety initiative
- Breaking Free: 7 News Detroit's series on domestic violence
Sheffield named violence prevention advocate Teferi Brent as the office's director.
"I am focused and anxious to help execute her vision for community-based public safety," Brent said.
Watch more from the announcement below:
Sheffield also praised Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison for having a major impact on the formation of the new office.
"The commitment is there, the heart is there — now today, the office is here," said Bettison, noting the work that's been done by community groups and the Detroit Police Department over the years. The chief said the office will bring additional resources to aid in crime prevention as well as help break down silos.
The city says partial funding for the new office is coming from a $200,000 Hudson-Webber Foundation grant.
This is the latest initiative from Sheffield's administration to address violence in the city of Detroit. In past interviews with 7 News Detroit, leading up to the election and after the election, Sheffield talked about the importance of addressing violence.
Sheffield has said in the past she wants to open the city's first Office of Gun Violence Prevention.
Watch below: One-on-one with Detroit Mayor-elect Mary Sheffield on what she plans to tackle first
The effort to support survivors and victims in more robust ways is important to Detroiters like DeLisa Glaspie who have suffered losses. Glaspie lost her son to gun violence just a few years ago.
"Khalil he was actually taken away two weeks before he was scheduled to start Claflin University. He had a sports scholarship and was on his way to begin his college journey," Glaspie said. "Life goes on, the world goes on, but for mothers, fathers, parents, it’s still a loss."
Glaspie founded the survivor advocacy and support organization Seize the Smoke in his honor.
Longtime neighbors say they're excited to see the city backing the grassroots efforts and hope to see more success after the city boasted record drops in crime over the last two years.
"The most violent zip code: our crime is down over 50% in our community," said Sandra Turner with the Denby Neighborhood Alliance on the east side of Detroit. "We know it’s working."
If you or anyone you know is in a domestic violence situation and needs help, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE(7233) or text "Start" to 88788.
