WILMINGTON – Mayor Carney on Monday signed an executive order officially establishing the City of Wilmington’s new Office of Community Safety, formalizing a major public safety initiative announced earlier this year.  

The Office of Community Safety is intended to build upon the significant progress the City has made in the past year with regard to crime reduction and violence intervention. Among these major crime reductions, 2025 saw the lowest number of shooting incidents and shooting victims in the city in over two decades. 
 
“Thanks to meaningful collaboration throughout our community and the hard work of our dedicated law enforcement officers, the City of Wilmington has made meaningful progress in reducing crime and builder stronger neighborhoods,” said Mayor Carney. “The establishment of this new office will help us sustain that progress by ensuring that prevention efforts are aligned across the City.” 
 
The Office of Community Safety will be led by a director who will serve as a senior advisor to the mayor, helping to shape public safety policy, and coordinate ongoing public safety efforts with law enforcement, nonprofit organizations, community members, and other city partners. 
 
Council Member Zanthia Oliver, who represents Wilmington’s Third District, said she is proud to see this work advancing. “I’m thrilled that we are continuing the efforts that several members of Council began more than five years ago, including our delegation trip to Newark, New Jersey, where we first studied new approaches to community‑centered public safety. That visit helped spark the Community Public Safety Initiative (CPSI) pilot program here in Wilmington, and this next phase builds on the foundation we laid then. This work is essential to strengthening public safety in our neighborhoods, and we are excited to keep moving it forward.” 

“Making CPSI permanent was always our goal,” said Council Member Yolanda McCoy, who represents Wilmington’s 6th District.  “We’ve seen the impact and our neighborhoods have felt the difference. I appreciate that the new administration recognized its value and backed it up with an Executive Order. Council should be proud of this one. We brought a new public safety tool to the city — and it’s working.” 
 
“The formal establishment of Wilmington’s Office of Community Safety is a major step forward for our city,” said Council Member Chris Johnson of Wilmington’s 7th District. “Wilmington has made real, measurable progress in reducing violent crime, and this Executive Order strengthens our ability to build on that momentum. For neighborhoods like the Westside, where residents have been actively engaged in creating safer blocks and stronger communities, this coordinated approach will help ensure resources, strategy, and community voices are aligned. Our office is excited to partner with the Administration to continue delivering safer streets and lasting stability for families across Wilmington.”   
 
Funding for the Director of Community safety position is included in a budget amendment that will be brought before City Council on Thursday. The hiring and onboarding process will begin shortly thereafter. Interested parties should visit the City website to apply when the position is formally posted.