While violent crime is low and declining in Covington, we are seeing a rise in property crimes in communities across our area, and Covington is not immune.
The City Council is working to create a public safety plan to help combat the many challenges our city faces to reduce crime. The City Council is committed to keeping Covington safe and, over the past seven years, has increased spending on law enforcement by nearly $2 million.
The increase in public safety spending has helped hire additional officers and allowed us to expand our patrols but increasing by that amount is unsustainable with current revenues. The City is also dealing with challenges like lack of prosecution, program and budget cuts at the county and state levels, and public safety legilsation that has impacted how officers can do their job.
The City Council is looking at all options to improve public safety, including looking for cost effective innovative ways to improve public safety.
Some of the strategies and activities the City has already implemented include:
The City Council is working to create a public safety plan to help combat the many challenges our city faces to reduce crime. The City Council is committed to keeping Covington safe and, over the past seven years, has increased spending on law enforcement by nearly $2 million.
The increase in public safety spending has helped hire additional officers and allowed us to expand our patrols but increasing by that amount is unsustainable with current revenues. The City is also dealing with challenges like lack of prosecution, program and budget cuts at the county and state levels, and public safety legilsation that has impacted how officers can do their job.
The City Council is looking at all options to improve public safety, including looking for cost effective innovative ways to improve public safety.
Some of the strategies and activities the City has already implemented include:
- CEPTD (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design) Training
- Providing Theft Emphasis Patrols
- Hiring a Clean, Safe Welcome employee who assists with improving and cleaning up our "downtown" core
- Hiring a Community Care Specialist to help provide resources to vulnerable individuals in Covington who may be experiencing homelessness, mental illness, drug abuse, etc.
- Partnering with the Salvation Army Street Team
So, what ideas do you have? Can you think of other innovative and cost-effective ways we can improve public safety?