Warner Robins Mayor implementing programs to combat recent spike of fatal shootings involving teenagers
Mayor Patrick says she and her administration is working to reduce crime by creating youth programs with the help of local law enforcement and the Houston County School District.
HOUSTON COUNTY, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) — Warner Robins Mayor LaRhonda Patrick says since taking office, crimes like petty theft and domestic violence have gone down. But lately, there has been an uptick of fatal shooting involving teenagers.
Mayor Patrick says, “they’re coming mainly from our youth, children that are enrolled in our school systems or are of school age. That is true, that’s the biggest spike that we are seeing in our city so that does not make me feel good at all but what it does is make me hone in to proactive, crime prevention which what we’re going to need to see in our city.”
Mayor Patrick says she and her administration is working to reduce crime by creating youth programs with the help of local law enforcement and the Houston County School District.
“We want to get back into the school system, we can do it in a number of ways, we’re going to be implementing our, ‘Young Cadet Program,’ which we’ve been talking about since last year. We’re now finishing up the planning stages; so we can launch, the young cadet program which allows school age children to get a positive view of being a police officer and actually kind of intern as a police officer and go through certain training. Really trying to get to our youth males,” said the Warner Robins Mayor.
And, her ideas don’t stop there, Mayor Patrick says, “my police department has brought the idea of GREAT or something similar to that, which allows them to get into the schools and talk about some of the same things we used to talk about when I was in school like gun prevention and dispute resolution. These crimes can lead you in bad places if you make a bad choice. So, those are some of the things we’re doing.”
If you’re concerned about your child going down the wrong path or know someone else who is, she recommends getting help from some resources that are available.
“If you have a friend and you know a friend who’s dealing with a child’s that just not acting as if though they were trained and brought up to act, bring them to the program. Let them see, what the young cadet program is. Let them come to our workforce development. Sign them up for Big Brother, Big Sister Mentoring,” said Mayor Patrick.
And, Mayor Patrick challenges the teens in her community, too.
“What I would say to the teenager, who’s also going through some troubled times and maybe making some bad choices and bad decisions, you’re life hasn’t been written yet. You are the author of your future, you can take hold, you can change the trajectory of your life by making a good choice. So, start surrounding yourself with better people. People who are in positions that you see yourself being when you grow up.”
