Every month the police chiefs of all of the local law enforcement departments report on gun violence and trends within their jurisdictions at the Champaign County Community Coalition meeting. May's Police Chief updates started early around the 1:50 mark of the meeting video here (agenda here).
- The Urbana Police Department's interim Police Chief Surles (Urbana chose a new Chief recently) noted that shootings the past month were down over 50% from last year. And last year was down 25% from the year before that.
- Chief Tyler of the Champaign PD also noted a continued downtrend in gun violence: 58% reduction since last year and a 71% reduction in the past two years.
This appears to mirror trends across Illinois (e.g. Quad Cities) and the United States (e.g. New York) after a massive peak in gun violence in 2021. Politicians and government officials tend to take credit for good news when they can, but it may be difficult to statistically tie gun violence reduction to any specific funding or efforts from one city to the next.
One may look at the city budgets, police staffing, and actual policy changes or programs (in the works or actually being implemented) hoping to find a connection to the roller coaster of gun violence trends. Or one can look at many other potential forces more or less out of any local government's control. A complicated combination of factors are likely at work here.
The recent City of Champaign update post included some budget updates on federal, state, and county funding going to some of the local projects related to public safety infrastructure, investing in impacted communities, and more direct local gun violence programs.
In related news, WCIA also recently reported that the City is attempting to reinvigorate its Neighborhood Services organizing:
Champaign’s Neighborhood Services are launching a new campaign called 43-43-43. It’s meant to re-engage the 43 registered neighborhood groups throughout Champaign.
Organizers say now that the pandemic is over it’s time for the groups to get back to improving their neighborhoods.
The city would like to see them get more involved with their neighbors. It can be through a neighborhood cleanup, beautification, or environmental education event.
More at that full blurb here. As the City's recent hiring tweets and advertisements show, they are also looking at hiring for a number of positions, including Neighborhood Ambassadors and a Neighborhood Services Director. From the 6/4 News-Gazette:
Urbana similarly looks to be reinvigorating its neighborhood outreach programs, including on gun violence. From Smile Politely's overview in March.
First Followers was in the news for its recent survey on the causes of gun violence. From Illinois Newsroom in April:
Research and social justice are often separate issues — but one local organization is using its connections to figure out how to combat violence before it starts.
First Followers helps formerly incarcerated people re-enter the Champaign-Urbana community. The group released the results of their survey of people in Champaign-Urbana on the leading causes of violence. Almost 60% of people said they’d been impacted by gun violence...
Poverty and access to guns topped the list, followed by gangs, drugs, and a lack of mentorship and constructive activities. Although these results weren’t a surprise, Corbin said, it’s helping guide their recommendations for local leaders and organizations about how they could help address local violence.
More at the full article here.
The News, Brews & Beatz, "quarterly community conversations are focused on serving the Black community here in central Illinois," continues to analyze local topics related to gun violence, community, culture, and more. Video and more information at their webpage here.
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