Reports from the Public Safety for All Task Force, Civilian Oversight Task Force, and the Anti-Violence Working Group will be Posted Online Starting Tuesday, January 28 

Mayor Katjana Ballantyne and Somerville’s Department of Racial and Social Justice (RSJ) are inviting all to join a community event presenting the completed reports from the Public Safety for All Task Force, Civilian Oversight Task Force, and Anti-Violence Working Group on Tuesday, February 4, 2025  (rain date Thursday, February 6) at Somerville High School (81 Highland Ave).  

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m., and constituents are invited to join members from the Public Safety for All Task Force, Civilian Oversight Task Force, and Anti-Violence Working Group for a discussion of their findings, a Q&A about the course of their work, and an overview of next steps in the process. Free snacks and refreshments will be provided. In advance of the event, each report will be shared on January 28, 2025, via the PSFA webpage. 

“Ensuring public safety in Somerville means listening to our community, embracing transparency, and working collaboratively toward meaningful change,” said Mayor Ballantyne. “I encourage all residents to join us on February 4 to hear directly from the dedicated members of our task forces and working group. Their reports reflect months of thoughtful engagement, research, and a shared commitment to making Somerville safer and more equitable for all.” 

Submit questions to the Task Forces/Working Group 

Ahead of the Public Safety for All Report Release Event, community members will have the opportunity to submit questions directly to the members of the Task Forces/Working Group. Beginning at 9 a.m. on January 28, 2025, there will be a form for constituents to submit questions for the Q&A portion of the meeting on the PSFA webpage. 

RSJ encourages community members to consider submitting a question to be discussed by the Task Forces/Working Group members live at the Report Release Event. There will be an opportunity for community members to ask questions live during the meeting but submitting questions in advance is recommended.
 

About the Public Safety for All Initiative Task Forces 

The Public Safety for All, Civilian Oversight, and the Anti-Violence Task Forces, each comprised of residents, subject matter experts, and City Council members, began their work in late Spring 2023.   

• The Public Safety for All Task Force was tasked with focusing on two key areas: 
• Drafting recommendations that will inform the adoption of an alternative, co-response, and/or unarmed response model to address calls for service and identified public safety needs in Somerville. 
• Drafting recommendations that will help and improve Somerville’s public safety infrastructure at large. 

• The Civilian Oversight Task Force was tasked with producing recommendations for the City’s first-ever civilian oversight entity, including its powers, duties, composition, and more. 

• The Anti-Violence Working Group was tasked with producing recommendations that specifically focused on mitigating four types of violence in the City: gun violence, gang violence, domestic violence, and traffic violence.