Residents say they still don't feel safe after gun violence declines in Louisville

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Gun violence is declining in Louisville, but people say they still don't feel safe in their neighborhoods.

The Louisville Office of Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods believes the city is on the right track.

Last year at this time, the city had 53 murders, that number includes one mass shooting. This year, the city has had 43 murders, so the numbers indicate the murder rate is dropping, but is that the whole picture?

On sunny afternoons Ron Kessler takes his granddaughter to the park across the street. He said his west end neighborhood is rough.

“Stray bullets coming in through my granddaughters room,” said Kessler.

He pointed out the two bullet holes in the side of house. Both went all the way through. While a WDRB crew was looking over the house, police sirens cut through the neighborhood.

Just a block from the park, there was a huge police presence. A dozen or so plain clothes officers with guns drawn surrounded a car in the middle of the street. Louisville Metro Police told WDRB they were making an arrest. One man was placed in handcuffs, but it is unclear if he is under arrest.

“Obviously if you live in a neighborhood with a large amount of violence that is going to impact you,” said Paul Callanan, Executive Director of the Office of Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods.

At a meeting Wednesday night in the west end, Callanan said the conversation around gun violence numbers is creating a false sense of security.

“We have to be transparent about what we are doing. We have to be transparent about the direction violent crime is going in and also transparent about what is driving some of the violence right,” said Callanan.

Part of the meeting was gaining an understanding on what is driving gun violence, what city programs are working and which one aren't.

“We have seen some crazy stuff go down around here,” said Kessler.

Kessler said he is not going to miss a sunny day to take his granddaughter to the park, but the neighborhood has him on high alert.

“It was calm in the wintertime but as soon as it gets warm out, it is crazy,” said Kessler.

The Office of Safe and Healthy Neighborhoods is holding regular meetings in the west and south ends of the city through the end of the month. To find a meeting close to you, click here.

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