As Louisville neared its highest number of homicides reported on Tuesday, Democratic mayoral candidate Craig Greenberg hosted a roundtable with members of the community to discuss ways to tackle the rising crime rate.

Democratic candidate Greenburg hosts public forum for solutions to violence

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In 2020, the Louisville Metro Police Department reported 173 homicides.

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“Homicides may be everywhere, but it’s worse here,” said Pegasus Institute executive director Josh Crawford.

As of Tuesday, the LMPD reported 171 homicides for 2021 and there is still a month and a half left in the year.

“Whoever our next mayor will have to be prepared to deal with these issues from day one,” Greenberg said.

About 30 people from both sides of the aisle and from various professions attended.

They all agreed that something needed to be done to stop the growing crime and made many suggestions on how to do it.

“We are a Derby town, but we are also the town of Trinity Randolf,” former US attorney Russell Coleman said. “We bury three-year-olds in coffins.”

Retired LMPD officer Steven Kelsey, who now works as a pastor and counselor, said to reduce violence we need to focus on community programs.

“If we don’t come together, we’re going to have the same number of homicides or more,” Kelsey said.

Jefferson Circuit Chief Judge Angela McCormick Bisig said she believes three things need to be done to reduce violence.

She said there could be more community corrections, where people can get out of jail through work release and through other rehabilitation programs, and an expansion and creation of more programs to reduce violence.

Bisig also said she believed the city’s juvenile justice center should be reopened.

“Things where we can bring young people back into the community,” Bisig said. “It serves us all better if they can have a job, provide for their families.”

Dr Muhammad Babar, president of Doctors for Healthy Communities, suggested creating sister communities.

“Maybe the Shawnee community could be my sister community and it would be my responsibility to take care of them,” Babar said. “I think we need to educate a significant part of our community, try to get them to cross the 9th Street divide.”

Greenberg said he plans to release his comprehensive public safety plan very soon using the ideas and issues discussed on Tuesday.

All of the Louisville mayoral candidates have said reducing crime is a top priority.

We spoke with the candidates and have a breakdown here.