Petersburg Mayor W Howard Myers, City Council and City Administration released the following statement today in regards to the recent crime events in the city:
Most importantly, the City of Petersburg is a safe place to live and we support the men and women in our Police Department for their hard work, commitment to serve and what they do each day to keep all of us safe. Our men and women in blue are doing an exceptional job, and they cannot do their jobs alone. Addressing community violence is complex and it will take the entire community to protect our neighborhoods, homes and families.
In the recent weeks, we have been very concerned about the crime in our neighborhoods. We are working closely with city departments to address the crime and increasing our efforts to enhance partnerships within the community. Keeping our city safe is our number one priority, and the city will continue to work collaboratively to make an impact against crime.
Since January, the police department has conducted over 120 Special Operations city wide to include fugitive service, check points, search warrants and other targeted activities. These crime suppression tactics have been coordinated with other law enforcement agencies to maximize resources working for us in Petersburg communities. Over 80 illegal guns have been seized. There are lots of ways the community can be proactive in helping keep the City safe.
We encourage all of our residents to attend the upcoming Petersburg Police Community cookout in Lieutenant’s Run on Friday, September 25 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., a ward meeting and most importantly, call the Petersburg Police Department to report any suspicious activity in your neighborhood at (804) 732-4222, and 911 in cases of emergencies. It will take all of us as a team to fight against crime. We stand firm that this violence is not who we are as a city and we are committed to working toward its eradication.