CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In the wake of recent violence, a community forum was held at Stonewall Jackson Middle School on Charleston’s West Side Tuesday night.
With three recent fatal shootings that occurred within a week at the end of 2015 and beginning of 2016, a new approach to stopping crime and community building will be explored. A preliminary map was distributed dividing the West Side into 15 smaller sections.
“By breaking up into these smaller micro-districts, we’ll actually be able to better provide tools to these district captains, that can provide tools to their neighbors to get them involved at a more micro level,” said executive director of Charleston Main Streets Ric Cavender, who helped organize the forum.”
Cavender hoped that breaking up the sections and having district captains would encourage camaraderie and residents getting to know each other, which in turn would fight crime.
“There are people on the West Side who are trying to do the right thing to keep our community safe (and) stable,” said a resident who wanted to remain anonymous. “Even in doing the right things, there’s still drugs being dealt on our streets. It’s happening all the time.”
Charleston City Council Ward 5 Councilwoman Janine Faegre attended along with several other members of council. She said fighting crime in the neighborhood has to be a team effort.
“As a community we all need to be involved. If it looks like something’s going on suspicious, more than likely it is,” she said. “Call the non-emergency number or call 911 if you have to. Pay attention; be alert; describe what you see.”
Charleston Police attended the forum, including Chief Brent Webster and Chief of Detectives Lt. Steve Cooper.
Cooper assured the crowd, which was larger than the previous forum held at Stonewall Jackson, that all those involved in the shooting incidents that had recently occurred were off the streets.