Police highlight successes of increased presence on Glenwood South to business owners Monday night

Raleigh Police Chief Estella Patterson met with the Glenwood South Business Alliance to discuss the crime statistics for the final quarter of 2023.

The meeting consisted of roughly 50 people, including Chief Patterson.

According to the Raleigh Police Department, 61 illegal firearms were seized in the district in the final months of 2023.

Police said it’s a 177% increase from the 22 firearms seized in the fourth quarter of 2022. Police said felony drug violations in 2023 in the district were up 217% from the final quarter of 2022, and misdemeanor drug violations were up over 400% compared to the final quarter of 2022.

Patterson believes the increase in patrols on Glenwood South contributed to the jump in statistics.

“I think we’re doing a fantastic job here in Glenwood South,” she said.

Some of the efforts made by police to curb violence in the entertainment district included more officers patrolling the district in the fall of 2023.

Downtown Raleigh sees increase in reported crimes, but police say it's because of increased enforcement

The city and businesses have also taken steps to prevent crime in Glenwood South. The city installed more cameras in Glenwood South and downtown and businesses have begun using private security as well.

Patterson says some of the biggest improvements have come from business owners sharing information with the RPD.

“What they have shared with us is the traffic pattern,” she said, adding that residents and businesses inform police when people are making the area less safe.

Armed security group to beef up enforcement around Raleigh transit station

Tony Basford, owner of Plus Dueling Piano Bar, said he and other businesses can already see the improvements.

[I’m] very proud of our officers and proud of what they’re doing,” he said.

Patterson did say guns getting into places they shouldn’t be is still a concern, but gave the following solutions to help curb the problem:

• Expanding hospitality units
• Business owners continuing to use credible private security
• Installing metal detectors at entrances and using wanding
• More safety cameras

Basford said he remains hopeful Glenwood South can get to the point where an increased police presence is no longer needed.

“We can remove some of the officers, and we’ve set an example, so it doesn’t have to look the way it does, but we expect the same result,” he said.