Committee Engages with Residents to Shape Public Safety Priorities

The Prince William County Community Safety Advisory Committee, or CSAC, is active and engaging with the community. The committee was recently formed as part of the county’s Community Safety Initiative and led by the Office of Community Safety with the primary goal of gathering community input, evaluating strategies and ensuring everyone feels valued and protected. 

CSAC is an extension of the Office of Community Safety’s vision, which aims to develop effective prevention strategies, strengthen partnerships between public safety agencies, community organizations, and residents, and empower community members to actively participate in shaping public safety initiatives.  

The CSAC is made up of 17 members from diverse backgrounds that offer a broad range of personal and professional experiences and track records of engagement with the community. Members of the CSAC include:

Qwendolyn Brown	Tate Jordan
C. Scarleth Castro	Kimberly Keller
Joyce Connery	Wesley Little
Gwendolyn D’Aiutolo	Nancy Lyall
William Ellis	Edwin Payne
Chrissy Fauls	Faswilla Sampson
Megan Franco	Miriam Valdez
Bonnie Fulford	Bill Woolf
Ricki Guyant

 

The committee is responsible for enhancing the Office of Community Safety’s, or OCS, current engagement approach by gathering community input to better understand their needs and perspectives. This understanding will be utilized to develop and execute safety initiatives.    

“The CSAC will be instrumental in guiding the OCS's strategic direction and priorities by providing a direct connection between the community and various service providers,” Dawson said. “Committee members will help develop key safety recommendations and shape the overall direction for the OCS.” 

Residents will have the opportunity to voice their safety concerns through listening sessions and other community engagement activities held throughout the County. The committee will use the feedback from these sessions to determine the main themes that will influence OCS's strategic priorities and help develop a comprehensive community safety plan.  

The Office of Community Safety held its first listening session on August 26th regarding transportation and pedestrian safety. Future listening sessions will focus on mental health and wellness, gangs and youth safety, aging, and emergency services. 

OCS and CSAC aim to gather comprehensive resident perspectives on safety concerns, including specific incidents, root causes and potential solutions. By understanding the community's priorities, OCS can identify critical areas for intervention, develop targeted safety initiatives, enhance interagency collaboration and optimize service delivery to foster an even safer community.   

To learn more about the CSAC or OCS’ Listening Sessions, visit pwcva.gov/ocs.