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Community groups propose violence-intervention program and pet fundraiser; council signals further review
Summary
During public comment May 1, Jackie McLean (Hoke County NAACP branch) proposed a Violence Intervention Program and presented a resolution declaring gun violence a public health crisis with a $15,000 training request; Karen Richardson of TARA outlined a pet fundraiser and council favored hosting it at the civic center.
Jackie McLean, representing the Hoke County branch of the NAACP, asked the Raeford City Council May 1 to endorse a Violence Intervention Program modeled on Violence Interrupters and presented a resolution declaring gun violence a public health crisis.
McLean said the initiative would be a joint city-county collaboration and that she had been working with Chief Marc Godwin and Sheriff Virgil to respond to what she described as an increase in gun violence in the area since January. She requested $15,000 to train community coordinators who would be familiar and trusted in the community and able to help intervene to prevent violence.
Council members indicated the proposal requires more discussion. The council recommended amendments to the resolution and asked McLean to provide an editable copy of the draft to the city clerk for follow-up and budgeting.
Also during public comment Karen Richardson, director of Tilted Acres Rescue and Adoption (TARA), outlined plans for a pet-related fundraiser featuring a 5K run, vendors and a food collection drive for the Hoke County Animal Shelter. Richardson told the council TARA carries a $1,000,000 umbrella liability policy. Council members, by common consent, favored holding the event at the Raeford Civic Center to reduce liability concerns associated with the park.
The council did not commit city funding for the Violence Intervention Program at the meeting and asked staff to work with proponents and return with budgeted language and potential amendments for further consideration.
