Winston-Salem Police Department Shares New Efforts To Combat Rise In Gun Violence

With the number of shootings on the rise across the Triad, local law enforcement agencies are searching for ways to reverse this trend.

At a news conference in Winston-Salem, police officers shared a host of recently introduced firearm violence reduction initiatives. ShotSpotter technology detects gunshot locations for a more rapid police response. A centralized computer hub allows personnel to share information in real-time. And a new registry lets residents and businesses share the location of their private security cameras.

But Police Chief Catrina Thompson says more cooperation is needed on the part of citizens who witness crimes and come forward.

"We can't do it alone," says Thompson. "It's not a police problem, it's a community problem. And it's going to take this whole community doing their part to address it. We're telling you what our part is. Now we want to know what investment are other people willing to make to stop this crime?"

Thompson adds the formation of new policing units dedicated to gun violence is putting additional strains on a department reeling from early retirements, and recruitment challenges due to negative publicity surrounding law enforcement work.