FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Improving trust between the police and the community; that's what Fort Myers police chief Derrick Diggs is trying to do Thursday.
He will be presenting his plan to cut down unsolved crimes and a lack of witnesses on day 1 of Thursday's Community Engagement Program at Harborside Event Center. The Fort Myers Police Department believe the event is the first step in forming a partnership with the community.
In the last year the city has seen its fair share of violence. No one has been charged in the Club Blu shooting where 2 young men died and more than a dozen others were injured. We still don't know who pulled the trigger in last October's downtown Zombicon shooting that left 20-year old Tyrell Taylor dead and 5 others hurt. And there are still a number of unsolved shootings that have occurred.
Thursday's 1st phase of community engagement will allow residents to address conflicts through intervention and education in an effort to make a difference.
FMPD released the following statement: "This opportunity offers a solution to begin to build safe, inclusive, and healing spaces for children, youth, and families. It also offers a way to listen and facilitate meaningful change in our community."
Thursday morning's event will include church leaders, business owners and educators. It will be at the Harborside Event Center from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Later Thursday, the public is invited to Session 2 at Dr. Carrie Robinson Center on Edison Avenue from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Then on Friday, the public is invited to informal community discussions at the Robinson Center from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
