City officials met with the public recently to discuss gunfire incidents and other threats to the public safety.

By The Times Staff

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne, Ward 4 Councilor Jesse Clingan, Somerville Chief of Police Charles Femino, and Director of the Department of Racial and Social Justice Denise Molina Capers invited community members to a Community Safety Meeting on Tuesday, March 28, at the Healey School Cafeteria.

The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the March 21 gunfire incident in Winter Hill, with cars and storefronts damaged by stray bullets in Somerville, and gun activity in Somerville in general. An overview on understanding violence-related trauma and where to find mental health resources were also be provided.

Mayor Ballantyne opened the meeting by saying that this is gun violence within the city is unacceptable. “We’ve lost one in five years, and 11 hurt during gun violence,” the mayor said.

Police Chief Femino spoke saying, “At the present time our crime is still lower than other districts around us even though it has increased. There were 49 confirmed shootings of approximately 325 rounds, 30 were charged and 40 firearms recovered since 2020.”

Somerville Police Chief Femino presented updates on the current state of safety in the city at the community meeting.

Concerning the March 21 gunfire, Femino said, “Investigations have been going 24 hours a day including with Cambridge, Boston, Everett, and Malden. The surrounding cities are also dealing with these gang related problems of which everyone is collaborating to discover information.”

Femino also spoke about how Wards 1 and 4 are seeing more gun violence than any other part of Somerville and provided contact information for anyone who has information to share.

A Riverside Trauma Center representative spoke regarding practicing self-care after traumatic events, talking to children when scary things happen, and presenting how to join the Anti-Violence Working Group.

One issue brought up concerned why police were pulled from school buildings. Members of the public seemed interested in why and would like to see them back in the schools).

Currently, police report to the schools only when the Superintendent requests their presence or feels it is necessary. It is up to the Superintendent to send out notices of situations within any buildings unless police are requested to do so. On Tuesdays, Chief Femino and his staff discuss discovered issues along with talking with the Superintendent regarding issues.

Towards the end of the meeting there were several interactions between officials and members of the audience, including questions and answers, with most leaving the meeting feeling uncertain.