On Saturday, July 19, 2025, community members, service providers, and city officials gathered at Trinity Episcopal Church for a Violence Prevention Community Conversation hosted by One Boro, the City of Statesboro’s citizen advisory commission focused on community inclusion and voice.
One Boro is a citizen-led commission for the City of Statesboro, with a mission to promote innovation, awareness, and public ownership of policies in pursuit of justice and well-being. The event was organized by One Boro’s Violence Prevention Subcommittee, which brings together residents and leaders to discuss public safety concerns and strategies for reducing harm through education, outreach, and collaboration.
Mayor Pro Tem Shari Barr provided opening remarks, setting the tone for a day focused on transparent, solution-driven dialogue between citizens and public officials and also thanking the Reverend Charles Todd for allowing them to gather in the church.
Facilitating the conversation was Adam Dean, Chair of the Violence Prevention Subcommittee. Dean emphasized the impact of community violence and why conversations like this are necessary to address it before harm escalates.
“For me, the big message is, it really takes a village. Everyone should care because violence is going to touch everything,” Dean said. “Whether you’ve been personally affected or know someone who has, it has a ripple."
Dean noted that prevention efforts benefit everyone, even those who may not feel directly impacted by crime. “Being invested in the community and prevention efforts is only beneficial to you and your family," he said.
He also highlighted the importance of visibility and education across all parts of the community.
“We can’t only talk about violence where it happens most,” Dean explained. “Even if your neighborhood hasn’t seen crime, being here, being informed, makes a difference. It takes a whole community, educated and aware, to prevent violence.”
Throughout the event, audience members asked questions and shared personal experiences and perspectives during facilitated group discussions.
Key Themes from Community Discussions
Gun safety repeatedly came up in conversations about both policy and individual responsibility. Community members discussed the need for mandatory safety courses and greater accountability for gun owners in a state with no gun registration requirements.
Other table conversations focused on how residential instability and infrastructure issues impact community safety. Residents expressed concerns about poorly lit areas and the lack of sidewalks and bike lanes as factors they believe contribute to environments where violence can occur. Youth attendees highlighted human trafficking concerns and shared that some did not feel safe walking to certain locations, even during daylight hours.
These comments reflected broader issues of perceived safety and access within the community.
Beyond infrastructure, attendees shared concerns about limited mental health and crisis response resources, residential instability, and recent educational budget cuts, emphasizing the need for services that allow individuals to seek help without fear of legal repercussions or escalation.
The conversations also touched on the importance of educating young people about laws and consequences early, particularly around issues like consent, substance use, and social media use, to prevent life-altering legal trouble rooted in misunderstanding.
Zamaya Colbert, a 17-year-old high school student, attended out of curiosity and left feeling more informed about her community.
“We don’t get to speak out as much, but we do have a lot to say,” Colbert said. “I think it’s important for the youth to come to events like this… to be more educated and be able to have conversations with people and speak intelligently. Also, to just know and understand more of what’s going on around Statesboro.”
Colbert was particularly impacted by discussions about sexual assault response services, including hospital advocacy for children and how legal processes function. “Definitely about the sexual assault nonprofit’s [The Teal House] work… going to the hospital with the kids with the test and stuff. And even with the attorneys… learning more about how they do their work.”
Dr. Saba Jallow, another forum attendee, emphasized the importance of creating space for open community dialogue and the role of intergenerational conversations in shaping solutions.
“Whenever we get together, we learn from each other,” Jallow said. “By doing that, you create some synergy in which ideas floated around can be operationalized to build a better community.”
On the table, the following questions were provided at the tables to guide and facilitate the conversation portion of the forum:
1. Statesboro has seen a steady decline in violent crime but continues to struggle with property crimes and recent tragic incidents involving gun violence. What do you believe are the biggest safety concerns in our neighborhoods right now, and what small, realistic actions could residents, schools, or faith communities take to help address them?
2. Several recent shootings in Statesboro happened within homes, between family members, roommates, or young people. What can we as a community do to better prevent violence in these personal and private spaces, and how can we make sure people know where to turn for help before a situation escalates?
3. Firearms were a factor in multiple tragic events this year, including the deaths of two children. How can Statesboro as a community better promote responsible firearm storage, safety education, and resources for households, while balancing the rights and concerns of gun owners?
4. Law enforcement can't prevent violence alone. What kinds of partnerships or collaborations between law enforcement, victim services, schools, youth programs, and residents would make the most meaningful difference in reducing violence in Statesboro? What's missing right now that we should build together?
5. How can our community better communicate facts about safety while still acknowledging people's concerns and promoting neighborhood involvement? What would a healthy, informed public safety conversation look like here?
6. Action Plan/Today's Takeaways - Based on your discussion today, what is a realistic prevention strategy that should come out of today's discussion? How can you personally invest in prevention efforts?
Panelists Provide Crime Data and Prevention Updates
Panelists representing law enforcement, judicial services, and advocacy organizations provided updates, key statistics, and insights into both prevention strategies and the realities of crime in Statesboro.
Chief Mike Broadhead of the Statesboro Police Department reported a 44% decrease in property crimes over the last decade but pointed to a significant concern: 275 firearms have been stolen from vehicles since 2019, with 254 taken from unlocked cars. (This data reflects city figures only and does not include county-wide statistics.)
“We need the public’s help on this—simply locking car doors could prevent hundreds of guns from flowing into the wrong hands,” Broadhead emphasized, referencing the ongoing 9PM Lock-Up Reminder campaign through their social media.
Broadhead also highlighted the importance of public cooperation in ongoing prevention efforts and the department’s partnerships with other agencies to address violence from multiple avenues.
Captain Charles Bowen of the Georgia Southern University Police Department presented 2025 (mid-year) campus data:
- 3 rapes
- 1 robbery
- 10 burglaries
- 0 aggravated assaults
- 5 alcohol law violations (with 105 referrals)
- 3 drug law violations (with 35 referrals)
Bowen explained these numbers only represent crimes that are both reported and occurred on official university property; everything outside their jurisdiction is handled by SPD. He noted that the department is part of the Division of Public Safety, which also oversees emergency planning, AED maintenance, fire safety inspections, and multiple campuses like those in Savannah and Hinesville, soon to include Swainsboro through the university’s merger with East Georgia College.
He addressed concerns around marijuana use and state laws, and the need for education on sexual consent laws to criminal charges.
Renata Newbill-Jallow, Chief Public Defender for the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit, thanked organizers for including her perspective, emphasizing that the Public Defender’s Office must be part of any conversation on violence prevention.
“You cannot have a full, encompassed conversation about community violence prevention without including the Public Defender,” she said.
Newbill-Jallow underscored that prevention strategies must account for the people most likely to enter the criminal justice system and the broader systemic issues they face.
Lindsay Gribble, Chief of Staff, and Teerah Rowell, Director of Victim Services, represented the Ogeechee Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office, offering an overview of the office’s role in handling felony cases across Bulloch, Effingham, Jenkins, and Screven counties.
They outlined the office’s collaboration with more than 21 law enforcement agencies, their work preparing cases for court, and the upcoming pretrial diversion program focused on first-time, nonviolent offenders. They also emphasized the office’s commitment to supporting victims through court advocacy, access to compensation resources, and guidance throughout legal proceedings.
Lily Gray, Executive Director of The Teal House, emphasized the ongoing work of supporting survivors of domestic and sexual violence through trauma-informed advocacy, both in medical settings and through the court system. Gray reminded attendees that much of the violence in the community occurs in private spaces, often going under-reported, and requires consistent community attention and resources.
Next Steps for the Violence Prevention Subcommittee
Dean reminded attendees that this forum is just one step in an ongoing process. He shared that the subcommittee is exploring ways to expand outreach through both social media campaigns and in-person engagement at community events, with a focus on gun safety education.
“We don’t want to wait a full year for the next conversation,” he said, explaining a potential fall forum to maintain momentum and deepen community engagement.
All One Boro Commission meetings are open to the public, and updates are available via the City of Statesboro’s website and social media channels. Residents are encouraged to stay informed and help shape future initiatives.
“Community safety is a shared responsibility,” Dean said. “This isn’t a one-and-done. We’re going to keep talking, keep listening, and keep working on solutions. That’s how we build a safer Statesboro."
Through continued participation, Statesboro residents can help shape prevention strategies that foster a safer, more connected community.
