The Use of Analytics to Drive Policing Workshop was held via Zoom on June 13, 2022 with presenters Dr. Lee Hunt, PhD, from the Greenville City Police Department, and Dr. Michele Covington, PhD, from the USC Upstate Crime Analysis Center (UCAC).
Crime analysis assists in evidence-based policing, is efficient and resourceful, and ensures that decision-making is strategic and fair. Ultimately crime analysis holds accountable those who commit crime, provides assistance for victims, and enhances crime prevention.
UCAC provides training, resources, and support; analytical expertise for law enforcement agencies; problem analysis assistance; and public training on problem-solving strategies.
Dr. Hunt shared the Greenville Police Department’s 2021 Year-End Statistics Report to show how Greenville PD uses predictive policing with local data to analyze historical crime data, predict future crimes, and efficiently deploy law enforcement with the goal of reducing violent crime without imprisonment.
The presentations are available here and the recording of the workshop is here.
Amanda Munyan,Laurens County Chamber of Commerce—The Laurens County Chamber of Commerce has recently become a “Keep America beautiful” affiliate. They will be hosting the Upstate Connect on June 24th, regarding litter in the Upstate. Also, they have gathered their 250th Revolutionary War committee, working towardstheir event that will take place in 2026. Finally, the groundbreaking just took place for the new walking trail, which will serve as the beginning of the Swamp Rabbit Trail in Laurens County.
Mary Lynn Tollison,Family Promise of Laurens County— Family Promise of Laurens County is a shelter for families experiencing homelessness or housing instability in LaurensCounty, with an average of about 14 calls a week. The organization has received multiple grants and funding to help with their mission recently. Family Promise sustains their clients for up to a year following their discharge from the program.
Adjourn
David Feild
Save the Date!
TATT CHAT July 14, 2022 | 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Guest Speaker: James Chappell, President & CEO, SC Bio
Laurens County (LC), SC is on the move and the Laurens County Chamber of Commerce is proudly promoting and supporting the tremendous impact across the County. With a mission to serve as the unified voice to promote, strengthen and develop the County by connecting organizations, supporting businesses, and building community, the recent develops enhance the Chamber’s success. The Chamber has traditionally and continues to support local, small business and the success of entrepreneurs through educational workshops, grants, marketing campaigns, and promotions, often working in tandem with County officials, Main Street organizations within the County, and their city officials. There are many other focus areas, like Agribusiness, Government Affairs, Workforce Development, Leadership, Non-profit support, Beautification, and acting as the Tourism arm of the County. But this is not all we do!
The LC Chamber is celebrating some huge accomplishments with the County, impacting the Chamber mission work, businesses, residents and visitors. Over the past year, the Chamber hired their fourth full time team member, the Keep Laurens County Beautiful Affiliate (KLCB) Coordinator, an official LC American Revolution 250th Sestercentennial Committee was approved, Capital Project Sales Tax projects are underway, and Laurens County Council allocated $5 million in ARPA funds, to non-profits and for infrastructure projects across the County. Read on for details…
One June 22, 2022, LC Council, the City of Clinton, City of Fountain Inn, and City of Laurens, in partnership with the LC Chamber of Commerce, the LC Development Corporation and the LC Sheriff’s Office celebrated the passing of individual, yet matching, litter control ordinances and resolutions to blanket the County. These partners funded a new position under the Chamber umbrella and on April 22, 2022, Earth Day, Laurens County officially became the 36th Keep SC Beautiful Affiliate, joining more than 700 Keep America Beautiful affiliates. The new KLCB Affiliate Coordinator, Courtney Stonell, is in position with exciting results for the first quarter of 2022. Over 46, 515 lbs. of litter collected, over 2,828 supplies distributed (bags, vest, gloves, grabbers) through the partnership with Palmetto Pride, and Lt. Governor, Pamela Evette, kicked off her annual Grab A Bag event in County. LC now has a focus and goal to engage the public in county-wide litter, recycling, and beautification efforts through impact, education, and enforcement.
Year 2026 marks the 250th Anniversary of the Revolutionary War. LC has over 112 notable Revolutionary War engagements, according to a local Battlefield Preservationist, Durant Ashmore. In September 2021, LC Council appointed the official committee, to represent the County and oversee the celebration planning, working with the SC250 Commission (www.southcarolina250.com). This committee has recognized fourteen historic sites across the County to highlight through a driving tour and a partnered cycling trail, through the LC Trails Association. Some sites will be on the Liberty Trail, stretching across South Carolina (www.battlefields.org/learn/revolutionary-war/libertytrail) and all sites will be a preserved piece of history once the archaeology studies are complete and the plan is in place. LC looks forward to welcoming visitors and residents to enjoy the history and character of this amazing County.
The LC Capital Project Sales Tax was approved, through vote by LC citizens on November 3, 2020 (58%/42%). This is a 1% sales tax on goods and services (with the exception of unprepared food, pharmaceuticals and fuel), funding $35 million to 16 building and improvement projects all around the County. One project is the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Loop Trail, hosted by the LC Trails Association and LC Parks and Recreation Commission. The groundbreaking for this 1.7-mile walking and biking trail was held on Friday, June 3, 2022. This is just the beginning to a multi-year project and plan for future trail development across LC.
LC County Council recently allocated $5 million to infrastructure and non-profit projects from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The fund requests were reviewed by Council through an application process. $2.5 million was allocated to non-profits (34 community grant applications received) and $2.5 million to infrastructure projects (5 infrastructure applications received). Decisions were based on how each organization was impacted by the pandemic. These funds will be a great boost to the agencies and organizations receiving them, helping them better serve clients across Laurens County.
Like Ten at the Top envisioning an Upstate region where collaboration, coordination, and cooperation across communities and business sectors creates a stronger upstate, this also creates a stronger County. The LC Chamber is proud of the work being done across the County, especially due to the leadership and partnerships from municipalities, businesses, non-profits, and individuals, working together for overall success.
As part of Ten at the Top’s Creating a Safer Upstate Initiative, a virtual information session was held on June 6 featuring National Night Out (NNO) Executive Director, Matt Peskin.
2022 is the 39th year of NNO community events. More than 16,400 communities in the country will celebrate on August 2 with community events to promote police-community partnerships, crime, drug, and violence prevention, and neighborhood unity. Events range in size from block parties to larger centralized events. NNO has national sponsors, including Starbucks, AT&T, Renewal by Anderson, Academy Sports, and Ring. Information about the benefits of registering an event may be found on the NNO website, as well as tips and tricks to plan, promote, and run events.
A recording of the information session is available online here.
We welcome you to Family Promise of Laurens County. When you walk into these doors, we hope you recognize right away the Promise we make to families each day for safe and stable housing. When you walk into these doors for services, we hope you see the love of Christ firsthand.
Family Promise of Laurens County provides three levels of care at our Center located at 205 Church Street in Laurens, South Carolina. We provide prevention services by assisting families to keep their current housing. Secondly, we provide sheltering services where families come in-house and join the rotation of churches who provide shelter and meals. Finally, we provide sustainability services for up to one year. We follow our families for a lengthy period of time to assure they are stable and following financial guidelines and planning designed for long term success. We are glad to service the citizens of Laurens County who need our services.
Our framework is a promise to families: PROMISE
P=Passion to care for families
R=Rapport by training and learning how to best serve our families
O=Optimism is important for families going through difficult times in their lives
M=Mission minded
I=Impact the community for greater change
S=Sensitive to the needs of our families
E=Empathy through seeking our volunteers and others who have empathy and care and understand that homelessness can happen to anyone
Beyond the Shield Workshop
National Night Out Info Session
