Wilmington Approves Carney's New Community Safety Office

The city council voted to fund the new office aimed at taking a holistic approach to public safety.

Published on Mar. 6, 2026

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The Wilmington City Council has approved funding for a new Office of Community Safety, an initiative proposed by Mayor John Carney to coordinate city agencies and community groups in addressing crime and public safety issues. The office will target "hotspots" of crime and nuisance activity in the city, with the goal of aligning prevention efforts across different departments.

Why it matters

Wilmington has seen a decrease in crime and gun violence in recent years, but there have been some recent upticks. The new office is part of the city's efforts to sustain this progress by taking a more collaborative, community-based approach to public safety challenges.

The details

The new Office of Community Safety will need a director, adding over $41,000 to the city's budget, with an additional $31,500 in funding. The office will serve as a "convener" to coordinate the work of agencies like police, emergency services, parks and recreation, and licensing. It builds on previous initiatives like the Community Public Safety Initiative and the Group Violence Intervention program launched when Carney was governor.

  • The city council approved the funding for the new office at its March 5, 2026 meeting.
  • Mayor Carney signed an executive order formalizing the Office of Community Safety on March 2, 2026.

The players

John Carney

The mayor of Wilmington who proposed the creation of the new Office of Community Safety.

Daniel Walker

Carney's Deputy Chief of Staff, who said they have not yet named a director for the new office.

Yolanda McCoy

A Wilmington city council member who supported the creation of the new office.

Chris Johnson

A Wilmington city council member who supported the creation of the new office.

Zanthia Oliver

A Wilmington city council member who supported the creation of the new office.

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What they’re saying

“It means coordinating with police, emergency medical services, parks and recreation, license and inspection.”

— John Carney, Mayor (delawareonline.com)

“Those kinds of things become more than just annoyances.”

— John Carney, Mayor (delawareonline.com)

“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. The establishment of this new office will help us sustain that progress by ensuring that prevention efforts are aligned across the City.”

— John Carney, Mayor (delawareonline.com)

What’s next

The city will need to hire a director for the new Office of Community Safety, which will be added to the city's budget.

The takeaway

Wilmington's new Office of Community Safety represents a collaborative, holistic approach to public safety challenges, building on the city's recent progress in reducing crime and gun violence through coordinated efforts across different city agencies and community groups.