WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — It was a deadly weekend in Warner Robins with two people were killed. Mayor LaRhonda Patrick asked for solutions in response to those killings, which include the death of a 14-year-old.
Mayor Patrick called on the city's police department and other organizations to work together to reduce crime among young people.
"We have to be realistic. If it's our problem, we have to fix it together, and that's what we are doing here today. So you've heard some information. You heard that the target area that we're dealing with and they're mostly males. That's why I called the men out to come to this meeting today," Patrick said.
Patrick says that young Black men need role models who will put them on the right path. The mayor recognized the age range as 13= to 17-year-olds who need the most guidance. Warner Robins Chief of Police Wayne Fisher says he knows one chapter that he will work with that can help.
"The 100 Black Men of Warner Robins. I was at their inauguration charter. Very impactful. It's a very strong body that we can work with to engage with our community," Fisher said.
The 100 Black Men of Greater Warner Robins was founded in July 2023. One of their goals is to mentor and bring positive change to Central Georgia. Fisher says his department has some solutions of their own to help.
"We're going to be initiating our public safety cadet program. We're getting the SOP's coordinated for that, but that will be something very fast coming," Fisher said.
About a dozen people spoke about their concerns and ways to help combat the violence in Houston County. Marion Curtis works with families who have lost a loved one and says the youth need someone they can lean on.
"That bond, that sense of community, the maturity level. A lot of kids are learning things from social media and TikTok," Curtis said.
Other people in the community discussed how law enforcement should look for kids who may be on the wrong path and point them to mentors in the 100 Black Men of Greater Warner Robins who have the resources to help.
"You are trained in law enforcement, you are trained to identify these problems, identify these crime zones. Once you determine what's actually needed, we can make those resources available to you," one man said.
Others suggested going to the Houston County schools and talking with the students about making poor decisions and the consequences behind them.
Mayor Patrick hopes to have solutions and discuss those solutions a year from now to determine what has and hasn't worked.
You can watch the full press conference here:
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