HomeMy WebLinkAboutGVPC Minutes 05.20.25CITY OF ROANOKE Gun Violence Prevention Commission Minutes
Tuesday, May 20, 2025, 5:30 pm Melrose Branch Library 2502 Melrose AVE NW
1. Welcome (Chair) Call to Order by 5:30
2. Roll Call Commissioners: Re-tired Kathy Cohen, Tim Harvey, Amy Hodge, Josh Johnson,
Robert Lamour, Jared Rose , Valerie Koeppel (all present)
Catherine Koebel (absent), Elliot Major (absent)
Youth Commissioner Mr. Nazir Jackson (absent)
City Council: Phazhon Nash (present), Joe Cobb (present)
City Staff:), Angie O’Brian, Laura Carini, Lloyd Merchant, Chris Roberts
Roanoke Police Department: Deputy Chief Puckett, Captain Boswell, Chief Booth (absent)
Sheriff Department: Sheriff Hash
3. Approval of Commission Meeting Minutes from March 18, 2025 Lamour motioned, 2nd
Harvey, approved unanimously
4. Legislative Update:
Laura Carini: No restrictions
Three items related to victim resources
HB 1726: Child Victim’s and services: Child victims allowed to testified electronically.
HB 1968: Victim’s of crime compensation funds: extended filing window from 1 to 3 years after
the crime was committed.
Sentate Bill 884: Landlord not allowed to ask for sex favors to tenants
Fire Arm Violence Prevention Fund: 1 million per locality per year, City of Roanoke named
locality.
Safer Community Program: Added 9 million to funds, including City of Roanoke, 13 million per
year for 2 years across multiple localities. 2.5 million minimum per application. Helen Ferguson
works on filing applications.
Laura will send documents to the Commission for their review.
Conversation with Mayor Joe Cobb:
Mayor Cobb provided Commissioners with physical copies of by-laws and Commision overview
Encouraged by the work of the Tree Planted initiative and Gun Lock Ambassador program
Recommended Commission Planning Session to focus on monitoring and evaluating programs
Council recommends expanding ex-officio members (non-voting board members)
Invite Downtown business members, identify skills and backgrounds that aren’t represented
Invite community partners and members to engage in subcommittee work
Youth Representatives presents unique challenges, recommends Commissioner to take
ownership of communications with Youth Rep. Josh Johnson volunteered to take ownership of
communications with Youth Reps.
Recommends hosting Quarterly Gun Violence Prevention Commission for nonprofits with a
focused theme.
Strengthen Community Engagement Footprint by attending community events, partner with
established non-profits to support/collaborate Commission activities or initiatives.
Mayor Cobb will forward events and will encourage the City Council to share events
Staff Supports: Scheduled holidays have affected City Council meetings dates which often fall
on Gun Violence Prevention Meeting dates
No limit on grants that Commission tries to secure, ultimately City of Roanoke is the applicant
on grants and secures funding and allocations; some situations where community partner may
be more appropriate to be applicant.
Focus areas of strengthens enhancing educational resources to victims and families,
enchancing community round tables, supporting efforts on residencies programs for
communities and families
Tim Harvey asked about funding for facilitators for a planning retreat; Mayor Cobb can look for
funds or utilize internal resources
Gun Violence Commission needs to have a presence at RPD Community Forums
Captain Boswell will send RPD Community Events calendar to the Commission to find
appropriate events for Commissioners to attend. Lloyd Merchant has weekly RESET walks that
all Commissioners are welcome to attend.
Cohen asked for staff that applied for Commission for potential members for subcommittees
work or ex-officios members
National Night Out August 5th, Commission need a presence. Molly Hunter working on schedule
Chair Cohen asked Angie O’Brien to update GVPC cards with Spanish on the back. Will work
with Communications team.
Chair Cohen asked for Commissioners/community partners to share areas that could benefit
from canvassing to distribute gun locks.
Josh Johnson: City website updated “On Board”, asked for direction to upload minutes and
agenda. Ms. O’Brien asked for minutes to be provided earlier so that they can be uploaded.
5. Old Business
a. Working Group Updates
1. Community and Neighborhood Engagement
Swag and materials to be stored at Mount Zion AME
Looking for more events to attend
No CAP Teen Youth Summit, May 31st 10-1pm with TAP
Community Fun Day, May 31st Melrose Library
HOPE Center; May 24th block party
2. Root Causes-
3. Education and Research
Tim Harvey provided excerpt from Bleeding Out
Subcommittee unable to meet
Planting Peace, Planted 12 Trees May 3rd, May 17th first two were dedicated with
support from media and RPD. 5 dedicated events are scheduled and 6 more trees.
Tim Harvey provided schedule for Dedication Services.
4. Other: 54 Gun Lock Ambassadors confirmed
Approximately 100 gun locks given out on 5-7-2025 event
Robert Lamour distrubited gun lock shirts
6. Reports
Carilion RMH Violent Injury- Recovery & Support (VIRS) Program; Hospital Violence
Intervention Program
Valerie Koeppel presenter
Summary of program
76 served
49 enrolled
27 provided Standards of Care
52 declined
114 missed
30 cases closed
$40k in financial support
Cell phones, security deposits, groceries, transportation to
medical/employment/educational appointments, bus tickets, hotel and other basic needs
Roanoke Police Department Community Engagement – Captain Boswell, Deputy Chief Puckett,
up 3 aggravated assaults , currently 54% decrease compared to 2023 (most violent year in
Roanoke).Provided updates summer patrol shifts and new flexible shift to supplement evening
shifts.
Currently 7% down on violent crime
Currently in process of hiring GVI Coordinator (PIVOT), still working on custom notifications
Youth and Gang Violence Prevention Unit Update – Chris Roberts (absent)
RESET Update – Lloyd Merchant,
700 Block of 29th Street (homicide response), 5 gun locks, 3 ID kits: complaints of lightings,
individuals sleeping in woods
300 Gilmer Ave NW/300 Hackley (report of gun shots): Several resident contacts to follow up
with RPD
1900 Gandy (DV report): 26 resident contacts, 11 gun locks, 14 id kits:
27 mentoring cases
Boxing still at Lancer Lot: Champions of Change; waiting for updates to Norwich to move back
2 boxer went to NC and won both fights
18 youth graduation from the Youth Apprenticeship program in April
Attendance Matters programming at Forest Park Academy, 10 week program
7. New Business
Leon Devince: Passed out and waiting funeral details for Commissioners to attend as their
desertion
8. Announcements
a. The next meeting of the Gun Violence Prevention Commission will be on Tuesday, June 17th,
2025, at 5:30 p.m. at the Melrose Library
9. Adjournment Motion Tim Harvey, Robert 2nd