Brittany Horn

The News Journal

Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki has called upon outside law enforcement agencies to help put an end to the spike in city crime that has led to 18 shootings this year, eight of which were fatal.

To combat the increase in violent gun-related crimes in Wilmington, federal, state and county agencies will aid the Police Department through a program Purzycki has dubbed "Operation Safe Streets." The goal is to flood high-crime areas with more police officers until the department graduates an additional 19 officers from the academy next month.

"The steady stream of lawlessness that has played out in some city neighborhoods since the first of the year will not be tolerated," Purzycki said in a statement, adding that the city will need the community's help in targeting and arresting those who perpetrate the crimes.

Gov. John Carney also has said the state Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families will collaborate with the city to coordinate services for at-risk families through the Child Development Community Policing program.

This program, which has been ongoing in the city since 2005, allows a police officer to request a state social worker to come to a scene to determine whether the child or family involved needs assistance from the state, according to release.

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These commitments come on the heels of Purzycki's announcement last week to increase foot patrols in the city, as well as increase efforts from the Safe Streets and DISRUPT units and other initiatives already ongoing in the city. The Safe Streets unit within the department focuses on the collaboration of Delaware Probation and Parole and city patrol officers to apprehend those violating probation or wanted by police.

The new plan appears to be an expansion of this program.

Many of the efforts announced by Purzycki last week were not new to the department, but rather an increased focus on specific units already operating. Tuesday's announcement also brought with it reminders of past policies that didn't work in the long run, said former Wilmington police officer James Nolan, now a professor of sociology at West Virginia University.

Nolan did research for the city as a consultant under former Mayor Dennis P. Williams for a $35,000 fee, but many of his recommendations were never implemented, especially those that focused on community policing. Nolan believes that the success of policing must be based on the strength of neighborhoods and communities rather than the number of arrests.

Tuesday's announcement concerns him – hardball language and increased police officers focused on catching bad guys in tough neighborhoods do not foster relationships with residents.

"There's a lack of understanding as to what's really going on," Nolan said. "There are plenty of opportunities to intervene, but (police are) not connected to anybody (before crimes occur). They can't get involved soon enough."

New Castle County Executive Matthew Meyer said the county stands "side-by-side with the mayor and governor to address the criminal activity."

“It is not acceptable if any community in our county is not safe," he said in a statement released by the city. "We must all act to meet this threat to public safety. ... We will join forces with the neighborhoods of the city, not only to participate in this temporary policing operation, but also to increase community engagement in the long term.”

The problem, Nolan said, is that outside police agencies don't have the same investment in Wilmington as its city officers do, meaning that relationships that should be cultivated with key community members won't be during this influx of outside officers.

"Foot patrols from the county don't build relationships," he said. "There's no thought being given to what really is the nature of the problem."

Purzycki said he does intend to implement in the coming weeks and months recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which issued a report in November 2015 calling upon the city to focus efforts on city youth engaged in epidemic levels of gun violence.

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City Council President Hanifa Shabazz has said the Community Advisory Council will release its report with recommendations on how to implement the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's findings, calling on the city to adopt a new social service delivery system, as well as provide activities for youth, to help young people avoid criminal activity.

The CDC identified the lack of intervention among youth at pivotal moments in their lifetimes as a cause of the violence cycle.

“We are all fed up with what a small number of people are doing to our city, and yet some residents are tired of being treated as though they are part of the problem instead of part of the solution,” Shabazz said. “We want everyone to have a chance to be part of the solution and stay clear of the increased police activity.”

Purzycki stressed in his statement that "even those who would rather not" cooperate with investigations will be needed to curb Wilmington's spike in crime.

"This will not be a situation in which everyone is treated as a suspect," he said. "We will respect the rights of law abiding citizens. However, we know what we need to do to apprehend those who have been committing the crimes and we are going to do it.”

Contact Brittany Horn at (302) 324-2771 or bhorn@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter at @brittanyhorn.