HomeMy WebLinkAboutGVPC Minutes 04.15.25CITY OF ROANOKE Gun Violence Prevention Commission Minutes
Tuesday, April 15, 2025, 5:30 pm Melrose Branch Library 2502 Melrose AVE NW
1. Welcome (Chair) Call to Order by Tim Harvey 5:30
2. Roll Call Commissioners: Kathy Cohen (5:43 arrived), Tim Harvey, Amy Hodge, Catherine
Koebel, Elliot Major, Josh Johnson, Robert Lamour, Jared Rose (by telephone due to work ),
Valerie Koeppel (all present)
Youth Commissioner Mr. Nazir Jackson (absent)
City Council: Phazhon Nash (absent), Joe Cobb (absent)
City Staff: Helen Fergusson (present for roll call only), Lloyd Merchant, Chris Roberts
Roanoke Police Department: Deputy Chief Puckett, Captain Boswell, Chief Booth (absent)
Sheriff Department: Sheriff Hash
Catherine Moved to approve Jared’s electronic participation, Rev Hodge 2nd, approved
unanimously
3. Approval of Commission Meeting Minutes from March 18, 2025 Elliot motioned, 2nd Jared,
approved unanimously
4. Old Business
a. Working Group Updates
1. Community and Neighborhood Engagement
2. Root Causes- literacy, work with Ms. Beane
3. Education and Research
Planting Peace, Perry Park 6, Horton Park 6 Sat AM May 3rd 8AM-12PM, four families
contacted, representing five trees, Sat AM dedications, Sat May 17th, Wed May 7th Gun
Lock Ambassador Picnic 4PM
4. Other
6. Reports
a. Roanoke Police Department Community Engagement – Captain Boswell, Deputy
Chief Puckett, violent crime down 5%, overall crime flat from last year
b. Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Unit Update – Chris Roberts 27 clients, 3 full
time, 4 part time, looking to hire 2 more part time, looking to move into Norwich Rec
Center, 80% confirmed gun carriers, 67% shot, 62% social media issues, 62% on a
virtual school platform, 52% gang affiliated, 77% already arrested, contract with parents
c. RESET Update – Lloyd Merchant, 3/4/25 reset walk 3 gun locks, 6 ID kits, 3/10/25 for
train deaths, 700 Block Drew Ave NE, scheduled court related therapy services,
3/12/2025 1000-1100 Block Syracuse for stabbing homicide, daughter frustrated, angry,
connected to grief services, 400 Block 4th St SE for aggravated assault, box fit, girls
survival swim 8 week program, youth apprenticeship, spring break week for youth Mon
100+, Tues 125, Wed 190, Thurs & Fri 240-250 food tickets
d. Group Violence Prevention – 1 intervention since last meeting, 16 for year, looking to
hire
5. New Business
a. Election of Officers (Chair)
Rev Hodge moved, Robert seconded to have two co-chairs (Rabbi Cohen and Rev.
Harvey and vice chair, secretary Josh (self-nominated) for secretary, Catherine (self-
nominated) for vice chair
Voted as slate, unanimous
b. Rev Hodge, second by Valerie, request of city council increasing board by three,
intention to increase working members of commission who feel responsible for moving
work of commission forward. Unanimous, none opposed.
7. Announcements
a. The next meeting of the Gun Violence Prevention Commission will be on Tuesday, May 20,
2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the Melrose Library
8. Adjournment Motion Elliot, Robert 2nd