LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) -- LMPD police Chief Steve Conrad confirmed on Wednesday there are 25 active gangs in Louisville, and that violent crime is on the rise.
This is the first time in years LMPD has admitted there being a gang problem in the city, according to Councilman David James.
Violent crime has continued to climb over the past several years in Louisville, Chief Conrad said, with violent crime up 4.4 percent this year compared to last year. The year 2015 was a record breaking year for homicides in Louisville, with 80 homicides, 39 of those remain unsolved.
This year there have been 25 homicides, that’s up from 22 from last year.
“Arresting people along is not going to get the job done,” Conrad said. “It’s going to take the community getting involved, helping us with information and working with us to get us where we want to be.”
Also in attendance at the Public Safety Committee meeting were Jefferson County teacher’s union officials who said the gangs and violence often spill over into JCPS.
“Until we fix society, our schools are going to stay the same,” said Petia Edison, a Meyzeek Middle School teacher.
She added that the kids don’t know how to handle the violence they endure, including losing a friend to a violent crime.
“Our kids come in with post-traumatic stress syndrome,” Edison added.
LMPD and other community members are emphasizing parents and community members to take responsibility, saying the only way the violence will stop is if a community puts a stop to it.
Conrad also mentioned how easily accessible guns are in Kentucky and the United States, and that anyone can essentially purchase a gun. Many of those guns that are used in violent crimes are obtained illegally, Conrad said.
Councilman James said now that the gang problem has been addressed, from a public policy standpoint, the city can begin addressing the problems with mental health counseling and the graffiti abatement program.