LAUDERHILL, Fla. – Lauderhill has felt the pain of gun violence, so officials were preparing to launch a new campaign that comes with political capital for a commissioner who is running for reelection uncontested.
Lauderhill Peace365 is on the agenda for Lauderhill’s Deputy Chief of Police Allen Siegel and Fire Chief Robert Torres who will meet with the commissioner and the city manager to announce the initiative on Monday afternoon at City Hall.
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In a statement to promote the announcement, City Manager Desorae Giles-Smith described the initiative as a “comprehensive approach” to reduce crime. The “365″ references the days in a year.
According to the city announcement, gun-related homicides are up by 44%, gun violence is down by 12%, and in response, the initiative encourages “daily acts of kindness and peaceful conflict resolution” through peace walks, workshops, forums, and a marketing campaign to promote a peace pledge.
Commissioner Melissa P. Dunn’s name is on the promotional materials the city posted on the site. Also, The Lauderhill Health and Prosperity Partnership, which she promotes, supported the campaign.
In a statement, Dunn — elected in 2020 and campaigning for reelection in November — said the initiative “embodies the belief” that peace is a daily practice.
“By making peace a personal commitment, residents contribute to building a more peaceful environment for themselves, their families, and our community,” Dunn said.
City records show Dunn filed her statement of candidacy in June and was running unopposed. She promoted the Lauderhill Walk For Peace event from 7 to 10 a.m., on June 3, at the Lauderhill Police Department’s headquarters at 6279 West Oakland Park Boulevard.
Epidemiologists around the country view gun violence as a public health epidemic. The Lauderhill Walk For Peace flyer included the logo of the Health Foundation of South Florida, a non-profit organization based in downtown Miami, which has invested in efforts to curb gun violence.