WILMINGTON, DE — In a recent update, Wilmington Mayor Mike Purzycki and Dr. Debra Mason, Director of the City’s Community Public Safety Initiative (CPSI), shared positive results from the Wilmington Street Team’s (WST) anti-violence program. Launched in June 2023 as part of CPSI, the program uses a Community Violence Intervention (CVI) approach to disrupt cycles of violence and build community relationships.
Comprising various non-profit organizations, WST is dedicated to enhancing the well-being of Wilmington residents. The Center for Structural Equity (CFSE) and Youth Advocate Programs (YAP) focus on “high-risk” interventions, targeting individuals aged 13-26 at risk of engaging in negative behaviors. Meanwhile, Network Connect provides wrap-around services to those not deemed “high risk.”
In June 2023, Dr. Mason collected crime statistics for East Side and Prices Run, two city areas with high crime rates. YAP took responsibility for Prices Run, while CFSE handled East Side, responding to incidents, providing interventions, and conducting community engagement. By year’s end, these were the only districts with reduced crime rates, according to Wilmington Police Department data.
Data from September 1 to December 31, 2023, reveals promising results:
- Wilmington Police Department reported 91 dispatch calls to WST coverage areas (Zones 1-8), with the highest number of calls for Zone 6 (24). This represents a nearly 7% decrease from June through August.
- District 11 (Zones 5-8) and District 13 (Zones 1-4) saw a decrease in crime in 2023, including shooting incidents, shooting victims, juvenile shooting incidents, juvenile shooting victims, and theft (misdemeanor).
- WST logged 210 community encounters, including agency referrals after shootings, providing safe passage to schoolchildren, redirecting teens to prosocial activities, and distributing Narcan.
- An increase in community encounters correlated with a decrease in police dispatch calls.
- WST hosted 11 community events and served over 660 community members from September 1 to December 31, 2023. Events included a community cleanup, clothing drive, Thanksgiving dinner, and Winter Festival.
Mayor Purzycki expressed gratitude towards Dr. Mason and commended the impact of the Wilmington Street Team, which has been instrumental in revitalizing the East Side and Prices Run neighborhoods. The Mayor further highlighted the notable decline in various serious crime categories across Wilmington, emphasizing that the city is currently witnessing some of the most encouraging crime reduction figures in recent years. The Mayor attributed this success to the collaborative efforts of the Wilmington Police Department, the Community Public Safety Initiative, and the dedicated residents throughout the city’s neighborhoods, who are united in their commitment to maintaining low crime rates.
These encouraging results highlight the effectiveness of WST’s work and the CVI approach. By focusing on high-risk individuals and areas, the team is making strides in reducing crime and fostering a safer, more supportive community. As Wilmington continues to face challenges, programs like WST are instrumental in creating a positive change. The city’s commitment to innovative, community-centered solutions offers an inspiring model for other cities grappling with similar issues.
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