GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ) — Green Bay continues to take action after receiving a $1 million grant from Governor Tony Evers in March for the creation of the Office of Violence Prevention.
At Green Bay’s June 6 common council meeting, they voted to create the position of Director of the Office of Violence prevention. Salary for the position is $83 thousand per year.
Green Bay Police Chief, Chris Davis, says that although the director will work closely with police, they will be employed through the Community and Economic Development Department.
The primary goal of the director is to reduce gun violence within the city through focusing on deterrence, tracking underlying contributing factors, researching incidents with high likelihood of retaliation, developing reduction strategies, conducting street outreach, and increasing resiliency in residents.
“They’ll get resources to do violence interruption, and work with people long-term who we identify as a significant risk as being a perpetrator or victim of gun violence,” said Chief Davis. “It might mean connecting somebody with job training resources or mental health or addiction support, to try to get them off that path before something bad happens.
The grant-funded position will go through 2025.
Green Bay is one of ten recipients of award. The office is expected to be located in the old Community Policing Center on Irwin Ave.
