City Crime Crackdown

Law enforcement is implementing policies to increase safety in Glenwood South. 

A month ago in our September issue,  we reported on Glenwood South crime and chaos to mixed reviews—including community backlash accusing us of sensationalizing the issue. But there’s no question the district is experiencing disorder.

David Millette, general manager of Smoky Hollow’s Midwood Smokehouse and future father, died Sept. 1 as the result of injuries suffered from a brutal assault in Glenwood South the Saturday prior at the intersection of Glenwood and Johnson streets. Ruled a homicide, Millette’s tragic death served to draw further attention to the recent crime-riddled district.

Extensive measures are now in the works to mitigate crime and increase safety in the area. Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin shared with Raleigh Magazine plans for Raleigh Police Department to return to community policing—aka “walking the beat”—where officers make rounds on foot, both in Glenwood South and across Downtown. And to further increase street surveillance, RPD is buying bicycles to patrol problem areas.

Beyond modes of transit, on weekend nights, “the Raleigh Police Department has provided additional staffing in the Glenwood South area to support our patrol personnel,” says RPD Public Information Officer Lt. Jason Borneo. Now, 25 officers are fully dedicated to Glenwood South, while the street is blocked off to prevent through-traffic and street cruising. The road closure and high police presence encourage patrons to head home as soon as the bars close, preventing potential crime and excessive noise after 2am. 

But with 91 current RPD openings, the increased police presence isn’t a long-term solution. “We’re a big city with a lot of people,” says Baldwin. “We have issues in every part of the city, and it’s not sustainable to continue to pull officers from other parts of the city to cover one area, so that’s why we are leaning into these unarmed security teams.” While the private security officers can’t make arrests, they can detain until police arrive. 

Baldwin’s plans to bring in private security teams to surveil Downtown serves to put more eyes on the street in hopes of preventing crimes from escalating—or from happening at all. And this comes not a moment too soon as a shooting rattled Glenwood South at 1:42am, Saturday, Sept. 16. Three men were detained in connection to the shooting, two of whom were charged for concealed carry.

Ultimately, given Glenwood South’s station as Raleigh’s central hospitality district—responsible for $1.2+ billion in economic impact annually—leaders and citizens alike are united in a goal to restore stability to the palatable playground.

Crime by the Numbers: 

In our September issue, we provided a snapshot of summer arrests and citations in Glenwood South from July 1–Aug. 6. Here, we worked with RPD for updated stats from Aug. 7–Sept. 4, as well as a year-over-year comparison for both timespans.

To support David Millette’s family, girlfriend and unborn child in this difficult time, make a donation at gofundme.com/in-loving-memory-of-david-millette-jr. 

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