LEXINGTON, Ky. — In the midst of a spike in violent in the city, Mayor Linda Gorton, Lexington police chief Lawrence Weathers and community action leaders are calling on the public for support.
What You Need To Know
- Violent crime has been surging in Lexington, striking concerns in the community
- Lexington leaders held a news conferences discussing prevention and safety plans
- Lexington is experiencing a staffing shortage in law enforcement
- Officials said the public can help out with violence prevention efforts
City leaders held a news conference on Tuesday discussing Lexington’s violence intervention and prevention plans.
Mayor Gorton says she and the city’s public safety team have implemented resources and new tools that have already made a difference.
“License plate readers have helped our police department recover 73 stolen vehicles worth over an estimated $1.2 million. They located 11 missing persons and furthered 35 criminal investigation’s and more,” Gorton explained.
City officials recognized factors like gun violence and having nearly 86 police vacancies as being harmful to public safety.
“There has been a shift in our society and many of you know it, where some people now choose to settle their disagreements with guns,” Gorton said.
Police chief Lawrence Weathers says people living in Lexington can do their part to help investigators track down suspects.
“You can be anonymous, you can use crime stoppers or you can use P3, but don’t let them scare you into that,” Lawrence said. “The stuff that’s happening out here it’s happening because we are letting the criminals win. if you want this place to remain the best place, stand up.”
One Lexington’s director, Devine Carama, who held a moment of silence for young victims of gun violence, says prevention efforts in the city are something that takes time.
“I mean, we saw an impact a little bit this year with our age group, but we’re talking root causes. Just like the pandemic exposed things that have been going on for decades, the same thing with gun violence,” Carama said. “So these aren’t things that are just going to be fixed overnight. That’s just the truth.”
In her speech, Mayor Gorton highlighted her team’s affordable housing efforts, substance abuse counseling and more as community necessities that have helped reduce violence in the past.
The mayor recognized domestic disputes as one of the leading causes of violent crimes in Lexington this year.