Speak Up: NAACP panel chair seeks meeting on Dover public safety

Posted

Citing recent shootings and increased gang activity in the city, Chelle Paul is calling on the Dover City Council and Dover Police Department to hold a special meeting to address public safety. “The city is failing to provide safety to its residents,” said Ms. Paul, who serves as chairperson of the Criminal Justice Committee for the NAACP Delaware State Conference Branches, in an interview last Wednesday. Ms. Paul also raised concerns that a pilot program for Dover PD’s mobile command unit is not going be used to combat gang activity, as it was originally advertised to citizens. Dover Police spokesman Sgt. Mark Hoffman said the Dover Police Department is supportive of a meeting between the public, police and members of city council. Mayor Robin Christiansen also spoke in support of the meeting, though he noted previous meetings have “to date, produced nothing different than what we’re trying to do,” he said.

  • Here is a great idea: Keep them in jail. As it stands now, they get arrested, fined and let out the same day. But make sure those guns they are using are registered in their name and they have the proper paperwork to carry said gun. — Laura Wing
  • Then the NAACP does not want to defund the police. Good to know. — John Smith
  • Biden’s America. — Rob Holley
  • Here is a great idea: Keep them in jail. As it stands now, they get arrested, fined and let out the same day. And make sure those guns they are using are registered in their name and they have the proper paperwork to carry said gun. — Laura Wing
  • “Catch and release” doesn’t work, let’s start with that. The police arrest people and due to the current policy, they are back on the streets to commit more crimes. The Dover Police are doing their jobs under in difficult circumstances. Slum landlords continuing to rent to people who are a danger to the community has been a problem for downtown Dover for years. No one wants to address this problem. I find it hard to believe those properties are up to code; half of them are falling down. Economic growth in downtown Dover? Who are we kidding? People are afraid to go downtown due to safety issues. Until the gangs and drug dealers are gone, there will be no future for economic growth. — Diane Duerr Partridge
  • There is a wonderful program, TRU Colors, started by a business owner in Wilmington, NC. It brings rival gang members together to work at the business. It is an amazing concept! They work together for a common cause and integrate into the community as a positive force. Those that participate are trained and given the necessary skills to be successful in their position. — Joan Glover-Wire
Members and subscribers make this story possible.
You can help support non-partisan, community journalism.

x
X