City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, University of Virginia Become Project Safe Neighborhoods Communities

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. –The Department of Justice’s Executive Committee for Project Safe Neighborhoods has unanimously approved the addition of the greater Charlottesville-Albemarle County-University of Virginia region into the program.

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a nationwide initiative that brings together federal, state, local, and tribal law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community-based partners, and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them.

“Confronting gun violence in the vibrant communities of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the University of Virginia demands a collaborative approach that harnesses the strength of all federal, state, and local stakeholders,” United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh said today. “By forging a united front, we can strike at the root of this pressing issue, ensuring safer streets and fostering a resilient community where every individual can thrive, free from the shadows of violence.”

“Addressing the complex issue of gun violence requires us to not just react to crime, but to also pro-actively partner with our community and our law enforcement partners. I thank United States Attorney Chris Kavanaugh for his steadfast support in addressing gun violence in our community. The safety of our residents requires a robust, thoughtful, and strategic, multi-faced approach. We will continue to work tirelessly to ensure the safety of all those who live, work, and visit the City of Charlottesville,” Charlottesville Police Chief Mike Kochis said today. 

“The Albemarle County Police Department is committed to working with Project Safe Neighborhood partners to identify the most pressing issues impacting our community and develop comprehensive solutions to make this region a safer place for everyone,” said the Albemarle County Police Department Chief of Police Colonel Sean Reeves. “Leveraging the resources and expertise of federal, state, local, and tribal partners, will provide our entire community the best opportunity to respond to and prevent violent crime in our area.”

“We are incredibly proud to be part of a partnership that not only seeks to reduce violence in our community but fully embraces the important of community engagement, thoughtful collaboration with stakeholders, and the irrefutable importance of preserving a safe and health community,” said Tim Longo, Associate Vice President for Safety and Security, and University Chief of Police.

PSN follows four key design elements of successful violent crime reduction initiatives: community engagement, prevention, and intervention, focused and strategic enforcement, and accountability.

In addition, PSN communities are eligible to apply for DOJ grant funds.

For more information about PSN, please visit: https://bja.ojp.gov/program/project-safe-neighborhoods-psn/overview.