Fayetteville’s Office of Community Safety Takes Action Against Violence, Mental Health Crises, and Homelessness

Fayetteville has always been a city with a strong sense of community and potential.

However, like most cities, it faces challenges such as violence, homelessness, and mental health crises.

And these issues, understandably, put a strain on law enforcement and leave many people without the help they need.

To address these problems, the city is creating the Office of Community Safety (OCS), which aims to make Fayetteville safer and more supportive for everyone.

Amazingly, the OCS is a new way of tackling serious community issues.

In the past, the city relied heavily on police to handle everything from Fayetteville crimes to mental health emergencies.

This approach often left officers in situations they weren’t trained for, like helping people in emotional distress.

The OCS is designed to fill these gaps by providing specialized care and working with police to improve safety and well-being.

Local groups like Fayetteville Freedom For All (FFFA) have long supported the idea of the OCS.

The advocates listened to stories from residents of all backgrounds who described their struggles with violence, mental health, and housing instability.

A common theme in these stories was the need for better resources and more thoughtful approaches to public safety.

The push for change gained urgency in July 2022 after the tragic death of Jada Johnson.

Jada was experiencing a mental health crisis when she was shot during an encounter with the police.

Her death highlighted the need for a different way to respond to similar situations in the future.

In response, the Fayetteville City Council approved over $2 million in tax funds to create the OCS.

This money will be used to hire staff, collect data, and launch programs to solve major community problems.

The OCS will focus on four main areas to make a meaningful impact:

• Mental health support: The office will ensure trained professionals respond to mental health emergencies instead of police officers. This will provide people in crisis with the necessary care and help prevent tragic outcomes.
• Violence prevention: Programs will focus on addressing the causes of violence and stopping problems before they escalate.
• Youth support: The office will create programs to guide young people toward positive opportunities and avoid risky situations.
• Homelessness solutions: It will work with local services to help homeless individuals find housing and long-term stability.

The success of the OCS depends on gaining the trust of the community.

Advocates like Rick Iwanski stress the need for clear goals and transparency to show progress.

Without a solid plan that outlines short-term and long-term goals, the program could struggle to gain support.

FFFA members think residents should help choose who will lead the new office.

They suggest having public meetings where people can ask questions, share their ideas, and learn about the candidates.

This would help ensure the office reflects the community’s needs and values while creating trust and openness.

The Fayetteville Police Department will continue to focus on public safety, but its responsibilities will change.

The Office of Community Safety will handle mental health emergencies that need special care and understanding.

Ultimately, it will allow the police to concentrate on law enforcement while making sure people in crisis get the proper support they need.

Police Chief Kem Braden supports the idea but says the exact details of how the department will work with the OCS are still being decided.

The OCS will also provide training and resources to police officers to help them better handle certain challenges.

Mayor Mitch Colvin describes the OCS as a “comprehensive approach” to public safety.

He believes it combines enforcing laws with addressing the social issues that often lead to crime.

Councilman Mario Benavente agrees and says the OCS will reduce the workload on police by handling issues like mental health emergencies.

With strong funding and public support, the OCS is expected to make a real difference in Fayetteville.

As we can see, the city is working toward a safer and more caring community by helping young people, reducing violence, supporting mental health, and addressing homelessness.