Statement by Wilmington City Council on Recent Violence in the City
Wilmington, DE (February 24, 2017) Wilmington City Council issued the following statement in response to recent incidents of gun violence:
All of Wilmington woke up this morning to the horror of another shooting resulting in the loss of another life. This tragedy follows the February 21st shooting that claimed the lives of two other individuals. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families.
“As a city, we can never accept these senseless acts of violence or total disregard for life anywhere, at any time, against anyone, for any reason,” said President Hanifa Shabazz. “We all – residents, law enforcement, civic, business, and elected leaders at all levels of government – have a responsibility to come together to address both the symptoms and the root causes of the violence plaguing our city.”
“Public safety is our top priority, and in order to keep our citizens safe, we must do everything we can to reduce gun violence on our streets and in our communities,” said Councilwoman Loretta Walsh, Chair, Public Safety Committee. “The men and women of the Wilmington Police Department deserve our sincere gratitude for their service.”
Council supports Mayor Purzycki, Chief Cummings, and the men and women of the Wilmington Police Department for their efforts, to date, to implement policing strategies to reduce crime and bring offenders to justice. We appreciate the support that the City has received from Governor Carney and County Executive Meyer through the State and County Police Departments. However, we cannot rely on policing strategies alone to address this epidemic. We must also employ a comprehensive prevention strategy that connects youth and families to needed services; increases support and funding for community centers and outreach programs; and provides educational and economic opportunities – key indicators for preventing youth violence, promoting youth development, and achieving success.
“StatThis is a public health issue,” added President Shabazz. “Until or unless we address the service delivery gaps, public policy issues, and lack of resources – as outlined in the CDC Community Advisory Council’s final report – we will continue to treat the symptoms but not the root causes of this epidemic. My Council colleagues and I are looking forward to working collaboratively with our partners and stakeholders to do whatever is necessary to save our children, restore our communities, and move Wilmington forward.”
For more information about this news release, contact:
Antoine L. Oakley
Director of Communications
Wilmington City Council
Phone: (302) 576-2140
Email: aloakley@WilmingtonDE.gov