Fayetteville hosts public safety summit day after Charlotte tragedy
Law enforcement leaders and experts met Tuesday afternoon for a public safety summit.
The discussion hosted by the city of Fayetteville starts a broader discussion about public safety issues impacting the city and the country. There were about 30 representatives from the city, Cumberland County and the state during Tuesday’s event at Fayetteville State University.
Tuesday’s event came a day after four law enforcement officers were shot and killed while trying to serve a warrant in east Charlotte. Four other officers were wounded in the shooting too.
“[It’s] incredibly sad,” said North Carolina Office of Violence Prevention executive director Gerald Tate. “My heart goes out to them and their families.
“Again, it’s a very tough job because they sacrifice a lot for us morning, noon and night to keep us all safe.”
Tate is a former military police officer. He said when a law enforcement officer is attacked, the entire community is attacked.
On Tuesday, Tate served as the moderator. The discussion focused on bringing together members of the law enforcement community, mental health agencies, the court system and others. It also focused on violent crime intervention, youth intervention, mental health and homelessness.
Specifically, area leaders are laying the groundwork for an Office of Community Safety in Cumberland County.
