December 17, 2025

By Mayor Derrick R. Wood

Public safety is not just about responding to emergencies.
It’s about creating the kind of community where fewer emergencies happen in the first place.

That belief is at the heart of why the Town of Dumfries pursued and secured a $150,000 public safety grant to support new programs focused on youth, neighborhood engagement, and proactive safety. This funding represents an investment in people, relationships, and prevention — not fear or reaction.

When communities wait until problems surface, the cost is always higher. But when we invest early — in youth, in trust, and in partnership — we change outcomes.

Why Public Safety Must Start with Prevention

The strongest communities don’t measure safety solely by what shows up in a police report. They measure it by how connected neighbors feel, how supported young people are, and how early concerns are addressed.

This grant allows Dumfries to take a proactive approach to public safety — one that emphasizes prevention, accountability, and community involvement. It supports programs designed to engage young people before they are pulled into harmful cycles, to strengthen neighborhood communication, and to ensure public safety efforts are thoughtful, targeted, and effective.

Public safety works best when it is shared — when residents, families, and law enforcement see themselves as partners, not strangers.

Investing in Youth Is Investing in Safety

Any long-term conversation about community safety must include our youth.

Young people who feel seen, supported, and connected to opportunity are far less likely to be drawn toward violence or negative influences. This grant helps expand youth and citizen programs that focus on education, leadership, and relationship-building — giving young people tools to make positive choices and a sense of belonging within their community.

When we invest in youth early, we don’t just reduce risk — we build future leaders.

Strong Neighborhoods Create Safer Communities

Safety doesn’t begin with sirens; it begins with neighbors knowing one another.

Through this grant, Dumfries will strengthen neighborhood engagement efforts that encourage communication, shared responsibility, and trust. When residents are engaged and informed, problems are identified earlier, solutions are stronger, and communities are more resilient.

This approach recognizes a simple truth: safe neighborhoods are built from the inside out.

A Smarter, More Focused Approach to Public Safety

Effective public safety also means using data, strategy, and community input to guide decisions. This funding allows Dumfries to focus resources where they matter most — not broadly, but thoughtfully.

That means being visible, responsive, and accountable while avoiding unnecessary escalation. It means measuring success not just by enforcement, but by improved trust, reduced harm, and sustained engagement.

What This Moment Represents

This grant is not a reaction to crisis. It is a reflection of our values.

It reflects a belief that prevention is more powerful than punishment. That partnership is stronger than division. And that public safety, when done right, brings people together rather than pushing them apart.

Dumfries continues to grow, evolve, and lead by example. By investing in youth, neighborhoods, and proactive safety strategies, we are choosing to protect not just our streets, but our shared future.

Public safety is important because it shapes how people live, raise families, and build community. And in Dumfries, we remain committed to doing that work — early, thoughtfully, and together.

For continued updates and ways to stay engaged, visit www.DerrickRWood.com/news