Friends,
My priority as Mayor is to work with the Little Rock Police Department, other city departments and our community to make our neighborhoods safer. To do that, we must implement a broad array of crime reduction strategies, focusing on both short-term and long-term solutions.
Everyone should recognize there’s no quick fix or easy answer to addressing violent crime. It takes a comprehensive, holistic approach that involves proactive policing, anti-violence programming and community involvement.
We know violent crime has increased across the country over the last few years, in both urban and rural areas. Little Rock experienced that same uptick in violent crime, and we have been persistently working to reduce crime in our neighborhoods. Though homicides are up this year, total incidents of overall violent crime -- which also includes rape, aggravated assault and robbery -- have actually decreased compared to 2021. We also recognize that even one life lost to homicide in the City of Little Rock is one too many, which is why we’ve redoubled our efforts to take criminals off the streets and keep illegal guns out of our community.
To support LRPD, we are creating a state-of-the-art Real Time Crime Center, we’re putting targeted patrols in high-crime neighborhoods and we’re offering $10,000 signing bonuses to attract the best police recruits and keep our staffing level higher than the national average.
At my request, the City Board of Directors earlier this year authorized $1.5 million to fund new programs to address violent crime. That’s in addition to other initiatives and community collaborations that are already in place.
And a few months ago, I established the H.O.P.E. Initiative and H.O.P.E. Advisory Council. H.O.P.E. stands for Holistic Outreach and Prevention in Every Neighborhood. I’ve tasked 14 community advocates, from residents to government officials, to recommend ways to prevent crime by focusing on prevention, intervention and treatment approaches.
The public is welcome to hear more about my Crime Reduction Plan at a forum on Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 9 a.m. at the Kendall Nugent Conference Room on the campus of Philander Smith College, 900 W. Daisy L. Gatson Bates Dr. I’ll be there along with police officials, representatives from the Community Programs Department and representatives from the H.O.P.E. Advisory Council.
I invite you to join me Tuesday morning to ask questions about how we’re addressing violent crime in Little Rock, then be sure to join LRPD, your neighbors and your friends on Tuesday night for National Night Out events across Little Rock.
National Night Out is an annual opportunity for neighbors to join together and get to know each other and the police officers that serve their communities. I hope to see you in your neighborhood as we all work collectively to reduce crime and make our community safer.
To learn more about our violence reduction efforts, visit https://www.littlerock.gov/city-administration/mayors-office/our-why/crime-reduction-strategy/
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The week ahead
Because of National Night Out, the regularly-scheduled meeting of the Little Rock Board of Directors was rescheduled for today, Oct. 3. The Board meets at the Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St., at 6 p.m. Meetings are open to the public and are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock YouTube and Facebook pages.
On Tuesday, National Night Out events are occurring throughout Little Rock. Locations and times are:
- Pettaway Neighborhood Association, Pettaway Park, 5 to 7 p.m.
- East Little Rock Association, Nathaniel Hill Community Center, 5-7 p.m.
- Southwest Neighborhood Associations, Southwest Community Center. 5:30-8 p.m.
- South End Neighborhood Association, Thrasher Boys & Girls Club, 5-7 p.m.
- Wright Avenue Neighborhood Association, Centennial Park, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
- Pecan Lake Property Owners Association, Antioch Church, 5-7 p.m.
- Pleasant Valley Homeowners Association, St. James United Methodist Church, 5:30-7:30 p.m.
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As always, stay up to date with what's happening in the City on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram via @citylittlerock. You can also email me at mayorscott@littlerock.gov or call my office at 501.371.4744.
I appreciate you!
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