Mayor Ted Wheeler met with local leaders and concerned citizens at Dawson Park to address the community's outcry after a recent spate of violence shook the neighborhood. In his comments, the mayor articulated "I share the anger and sadness this unthinkable incident has caused, and the desire to find meaningful solutions to see that it never happens again," Wheeler stated, according to a release from his office.
During his engagement at Dawson Park, the Mayor highlighted ongoing efforts to stem gun violence that has been a longstanding challenge in the area. Citing a reduction in total shooting incidents by 30% over the last three years, Wheeler relayed what might be considered a silver lining amid the tragedy. "Total shooting incidents are down 30 percent over the last three years, and gun-related homicides among Black Portlanders is down 38% in the last year," he noted.
Emphasizing the multifaceted approach the city is taking, Wheeler announced that police patrols would be stepped up around Dawson Park, helping to maintain a visible presence with the intention to deter further incidents. Alongside increased patrols, he referred to the collaboration between various agencies. "Nonetheless, my team along with Deputy City Administrator for Public Safety Mike Myers, Police Chief Bob Day, Office of Violence Prevention teams, and Portland Ceasefire teams will continue working closely together and with the community to stop cycles of retaliation and revitalize areas in which violence is occurring," Wheeler stated.
Further demonstrating proactive measures, Wheeler applauded the work of the Office of Violence Prevention and Portland Ceasefire. "The Office of Violence Prevention and Portland Ceasefire, which began just one year ago, have been canvassing this vicinity and expanding outreach to intervene in cycles of retaliation and prevent further violence from occurring," he mentioned. Additionally, an upcoming grant was announced, aimed at enhancing the efforts of the Safe Blocks team within the neighborhoods impacted.
As Wheeler shared the current and planned initiatives, he also welcomed community feedback. He acknowledged the past discussions with various stakeholders, including faith leaders and the local neighborhood association, promising that all options to curb the violence were on the table. "We need to approach this problem as holistically as possible, which calls on all of us to work together," stated Wheeler.
