Has Decatur turned the corner on reducing gun violence?

One shooting is one too many in any city, and Decatur has experienced a surge in gun violence over the last two years.  In 2020, the city had 169 shootings compared to 54 in 2016, 95 in 2017, 90 in 2018, and 83 in 2019.  YTD thru November there has been 167 shootings in the city, an increase of 7% compared to 2020. 

At first glance, it may appear that Decatur has not made progress in reducing gun violence, but a noticeable reduction in shootings has occurred the last two months.  Specifically, the number of shootings in October and November 2021 (n = 14) is 69% less than in October and November 2020 (n = 45), and is the same number as October and November 2019. 

I want to thank our Decatur Police officers, community leaders, and citizens for their heroic efforts to help reduce the epidemic of gun violence Decatur has experienced the last two years.  Thanks to everyone’s efforts, there are many reasons to predict that the downward trend in gun violence will continue in 2022 as community violence intervention programs such as Peace and Youth Summits, youth after-school and employment opportunities, and initiatives by the Decatur Police Department continue and expand.

MORE NEIGHBORHOOD CAMERAS ARE NEEDED

At its August 2 meeting, the city council consented to using $1.7 million of 2021 ARP funds for public safety initiatives including additional neighborhood cameras (60 cameras cost $165,000 per year).  Since the first set of 60 cameras was installed earlier this year, the cameras have proven to be an effective tool in solving crime and may be a deterrent to committing crime.  There are still many areas in the city where shootings continue to take place that could benefit from having cameras installed. 

The city should move quickly to install these additional cameras.  From the time the city council approved the first set of neighborhood cameras on March 15, it took less than two months to begin installation.  It has now been over 4 months since the council consented to the second set of cameras and a final agreement for these cameras has yet to be placed on the meeting agenda.