LYNCHBURG (WSLS 10) - Nearly six months into the job, Lynchburg Police Chief Raul Diaz has identified crime problems he wants to fix following recent shootings.
"Obviously when it involves people shooting at each other it is a concern for us" said Chief Diaz.
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Officials are concerned about the recent double shooting at Younger Park and another shooting nearby.
The chief said the incidents appear to be unrelated and have attracted negative attention to, what he calls, a normally quiet neighborhood.
Diaz said crime numbers in Lynchburg have fluctuated since he has been in office. He said overall crime figures have been on a downward trend in recent years.
Moving forward, the chief hopes implementing community-policing programs will help to further reduce crime. Recently, he started Lynchburg's first "Community Action Team" or CAT team.
Diaz said the program was an effective crime fighting tool at his previous job in Florida and he believes it will be successful in building relationships in the Hill City.
"Community policing is a philosophy that involves the whole department but these officers will lead the way," Chief Diaz said.
By being a visible part of the community, Diaz hopes to prevent future incidents like what happened at Younger Park from happening anywhere else in Lynchburg.
On Tuesday, the Lynchburg Police Department is teaming up with Parks & Rec for a community meeting at Fairview Center.
Community members are encouraged to attend and discuss concerns about safety, crime and other issues. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m.