Fayetteville police chief proposes new programs to combat violent crime

In all of 2020, that number was 32 – the highest number of homicides in a year since 2016, officials said.

"Each one of us plays a role in how we react to individuals," she said. "How much patience do we have with someone? Each one of us can really truly think about how to de-escalate an argument, or a fight that we know our family members have."

City Councilwoman Tisha Waddell has a message for Fayetteville residents: If you see something, say something.

"We need to be responsible for each other, so talking to each other and getting our in the neighborhood, and also that we need to be supporting our local businesses so we can build our economy so that people don't feel like crime is the answer," Waddell said. "They understand there are other ways to get money."

The Fayetteville Police Department is proposing a handful of new programs to help the city combat this rise in violent crime. One of those programs is a public/private camera feed used to monitor the community.

The police are asking for a "real-time crime center for the community" that integrates businesses security cameras with public safety cameras. They have also proposed a gun buy-back program, which would provide the public with a financial incentive to decrease the number of firearms in the community.

The department is also asking to fund "Community Violence Interrupters," who are "trusted messengers" that will use their relationships to stop violence before it happens.