By Leann Schenke

DOVER — Determined to reduce violence in Dover while also addressing gang activity, the Dover Police Department is moving forward with its community policing model while also continuing to seek input from the community on finding solutions to crime.

Dover Police Chief Thomas Johnson discussed potential solutions during a public meeting Tuesday at the police department. It was hosted by the chief’s advisory committee in collaboration with Mayor Robin Christiansen and Councilman Ralph Taylor, who chairs the council’s Safety, Advisory and Transportation Committee.

The entire Dover city council and mayor attended the meeting, which comes after six shootings, one fatal, in the Dover area so far this month.

A 25-year-old man was seriously injured with multiple gunshot wounds Monday at about 10 p.m. Two hours earlier, the front of a residence was struck by a single gunshot round. No injuries were reported in that incident.

The meeting also served as a platform for residents to voice concerns about the use of the department’s new mobile mini-station, which was parked outside the department for the public to view after the meeting concluded — and for Chief Johnson to lay out his priorities for the mini-station.

The mini-station will be implemented as a pilot program throughout the summer. Chief Thomas said if it is successful, he will return to the council about purchasing vehicles to use as mini-stations.

Chief Thomas also announced the department is beginning the process of developing a similar program to that of Group Violence Intervention — a Wilmington-based project led by former Wilmington Police Chief Bobby Cummings, who was in attendance. That program aims to help high-risk individuals avoid further involvement in the criminal justice system by stabilizing their lives and creating a sense of accountability for violence.

Chief Thomas said a GVI-type program could help reach chronic offenders, who are “not impressed” with current strategies for reform.

“We also have to recognize that those folks are still human beings that we’re trying to address,” Chief Thomas said.

Mr. Cummings said a meeting will be scheduled for the community to learn more about how GVI works and how it will be implemented in the Dover community.

Speaking to the community policing model and concerns from those attending, Chief Thomas said his department also is prioritizing efforts to prevent youths from engaging in criminal activity through outreach and education.

One solution he offered was the police department’s Police Athletic League, which he noted is more than sports but helps officers connect with youths.

Another was a new Labrador police dog that will be used specifically for comforting victims of crime or for helping people feel more comfortable around officers.

Chief Thomas also announced the formation of a subcommittee within the advisory committee that would focus on how to prevent youths from committing crime.

The subcommittee will see officers and high school students meet to workshop ways to keep other students from joining gangs or turning to violence.

When the meeting was opened to questions, most centered around finding ways to intervene for youths before they turn to crime (through organizations like the Boys and Girls Club of Dover or through sports) and correcting the state’s bail system — which several people said allows offenders out of prison too soon where they can cause more crime.

Another topic was addressing homelessness in the city.

Other citizens sought more meetings between the police and the community, but in specific neighborhoods as opposed to meeting at the police department.

While Chief Thomas said that might not be a possibility given Delaware’s laws for formal meetings, he said he is committed to keeping the conversions happening.

“We just kind of stepped in to provide an immediate forum to get this conversation going, because we knew it was important,” he said.

Councilman Taylor also asked that the community continue to come to the council with potential solutions or questions.

“If there is a specific topic that you (have information on) or you know that there is someone who needs a resource, please don’t hesitate to tell us,” he said. “We are doing everything that we can, but we are not trying to do it alone. We can’t do it alone. We need you.”