Racine County and the City of Racine are collaborating on a Violent Crime Reduction Initiative that will be launched this Memorial Day weekend to address the recent uptick in violent crimes and the anticipated criminal trends over the summer months.
The Violent Crime Reduction Initiative has three main components:
• Law Enforcement Violent Crime Task Force
• Community Programming
• Community Engagement
The Law Enforcement Violent Crime Task Force will engage with all criminal justice partners – Police, District Attorney’s Office, and Human/Juvenile Services – to effectively mitigate violent crime in our community through precision patrol enforcement, comprehensive investigative efforts, and collaborative information sharing.
While the Law Enforcement Violent Crime Task Force is an important first step, the Violent Crime Reduction Initiative will not meet its goals without working partnerships with the community. Law Enforcement more effectively serves and protects the community when we all work together. Therefore, Community Programing and Community Engagement are crucial components in keeping Racine safe.
Community programming will focus on key areas of need and opportunity in the community as identified through feedback from a survey administered by the Racine County Diversity Task Force. These areas will touch upon workforce/business development, housing, education, and crime prevention.
Community engagement will focus on identifying partners in the community to engage around violent crime issues. These partners will come from government, law enforcement, businesses, and community leaders.
Racine County Executive Jonathan Delagrave
“No matter where you live in Racine County – north side, south side, east side, or west side – regardless of your race or socioeconomic status, you have an inherent right to live in a safe neighborhood. Whether you live, worship, or recreate here, Racine County is a safe place. To the 200,000 residents of Racine County, this is a line in the sand. We are doing everything within our power to keep our neighborhoods and communities safe.”
City of Racine Mayor Cory Mason
"Our community is coming together to take action to address gun violence. Today's announcement is an important first step. I applaud the Racine Police Department and the Racine County Sheriff's office for collaborating and sharing resources to keep our community safe. I also know that law enforcement is only one part of the solution - it takes the community as a whole to reject violent crime. We must support community programming and engage our residents so they know that there are alternatives to violence and find ways to connect people directly to resources. I look forward to continuing to work with our partners to make a safer community."
Racine County District Attorney Patricia Hanson
“These are trying times for our community, but we are coming together to restore safety to our neighborhoods. No one office or agency can do this work alone, and none of us can meet the goals of this initiative without the cooperation of the community. I believe the trifecta of a law enforcement response, community engagement, and community programming will ensure that we are all winners in the fight to end violence on our streets.”
Racine County Sheriff Chris Schmaling
“I am encouraged that Sheriff’s deputies and Racine officers will be working side-by-side, riding in the same squad car, in a proactive attempt to target violent individuals who are terrorizing good neighborhoods. Please realize, violence will not be completely eradicated, but with the community’s trust and assistance, law enforcement will aggressively enforce the law so that the people who are perpetuating violence are incarcerated.”
City of Racine Assistant Chief Alex Ramirez
“The Racine Police Department is highly encouraged and driven to work alongside the Racine County Sheriff’s Office. Both organizations working multi-jurisdictionally, will allow all resources combined, to be pro-actively utilized based on intelligence led data. We are extremely appreciative of our Racine community partners, who are giving their valuable time to combat these senseless violent acts. We as a community, law enforcement and local government, will continue to serve the citizens of this community to the best of our ability.”
