The West End Salisbury Transformed Empowered Neighborhood Development (WEST END) Project

Applicant Name: Salisbury Police Department
City and State: City of Salisbury, North Carolina (rural)
Total Funding Requested: $800,000.00

USAO/PSN: Salisbury is a priority location for the Middle District of North Carolina United States Attorney’s Office (USAO) and has actively participated in PSN since 2017.

Project Neighborhood: The West End supports 26 percent of the city’s population (est. n=9,880), across 3,383 households. The “hot spots” for the neighborhood fall within a persistently-poverty affected area, with 36 percent (Census Tract 504) and 23 percent (Census Tract 503) living in poverty, with approximately 25% female-head of households, and 18% of those households having children under the age of 18 (ACS, 2019). Zip code: 28144 (more than project area).

Summary of Goals/Activities: The West End Salisbury Transformed Empowered Neighborhood Development (WEST END) project builds on past efforts to connect our community with services, programs, and other resources to interrupt persistent cycles of violence and disorder. In Salisbury, the West End community is commonly known to be the epicenter for violent crime, gang activity, and quality of life concerns. Our proposed project collaborates with the City’s Parks and Recreation Department and the Community Development Office for the West End to achieve the following goals: 1) develop a Community Violence Intervention Team, 2) develop and/or enhance recreational and public spaces to further collaborate with community groups, and 3) connect and engage with youth and young adults for crime prevention and public safety. Upon receiving an award, the SPD Community Relations Sergeant will lead the project planning and coordination activities.

Summary of Data Plan: Salisbury Police Department (SPD) employs two crime analysts in our Crime Information Center that utilize the SARA model to evaluate city data (e.g., calls for service, reported crime) to identify patterns of crime and disorder. Our center uses business intelligence tools and other crime analysis techniques to identify, monitor, and evaluate crime trends. These are monitored by SPD and regional agencies.

Specific Crime Issues:
Between 2018-2020, the City has reported increases of shots fired (35 percent, n=391 in 2018 to n=528 in 2020), shooting into occupied dwellings (100 percent, n=16 in 2018 to n=32 in 2020), and aggravated assaults with a gun (11 percent, n=36 in 2018 to n=40 in 2020). We have identified specific areas in the West End neighborhood that experience these crimes at a higher rate than other areas of the city to support a community violence intervention strategy initiative.