Salisbury named National Public Safety Partnership site to combat violent crime

The DOJ program provides for federal law enforcement agencies' assistance in the city

On the heels of the Salisbury Police Department’s recent assessment by the Department of Justice/Office of Justice Programs, (DOJ), Salisbury is one of two National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) Diagnostic Sites for 2018. The Partnership serves as a platform for the DOJ to work with cities to proactively identify and prioritize resources that will help communities address gun, drug and criminal gang violence.

As a Diagnostic Site, Salisbury will receive an 18-month commitment from the DOJ, which includes:

•  A proposed training and technical assistance plan development, implementation and evaluation
•  Community engagement in violence reduction strategies
•  Action plan development and evaluation

Salisbury Police Department officials hope to implement tactics such as a greater use of firearms ballistics tracking technology, targeted gang offender operations, the installation of security cameras and license plate readers, and the use of enhanced sentencing under federal prosecution to reduce violent crime and make Salisbury neighborhoods safer.

PSP is “a highly-strategic and customized initiative that is committed to meeting the needs of sites in the areas of federal partnerships, crime analysis, technology, gun violence, criminal justice collaboration, community engagement and investigations,” according to the 2017 DOJ Annual Report. DOJ partnership agencies such as the ATF, FBI, DEA and the U.S. Marshal Service will work alongside the Middle District of North Carolina U.S. Attorney’s Office. The U.S. Attorney will coordinate federal prosecution based on cases brought by the agencies.

“Our selection as a PSP Diagnostic Site is welcomed news as it allows us to continue the work we started with the Office of Justice Programs assessment a year ago,” said Police Chief Jerry Stokes. “In reviewing the success of other sites such as Compton, Calif., in reducing its homicide rate, and Jackson, Mississippi’s decrease in overall crime, Salisbury is a strong candidate for a noticeable, downward shift in its violent crime. Let this serve as a heads up to those who are engaging or would engage in these destructive actions in our city. We are using every tactic at our disposal to make Salisbury safe for all of our residents. Your actions are not tolerated here.”

The National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) was established in June 2017 under the direction of Attorney General Jeff Sessions in response to the President’s Executive Order on a Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety, which emphasizes the role of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in combating violent crime.