Durham leaders keep pushing to lower crime rate

Durham's violent crime rate is more than double the rate in Wake County. Mayor Bill Bell and members of a special roundtable have been meeting since late last year to develop crime-fighting strategies.

Those strategies include improving communication and coordination between law enforcement, the District Attorney's Office and judges.

At a community meeting Thursday night, Bell said building trust between neighbors and law enforcement will help lower Bull City’s crime rate.

“I think the cooperation from the community is very key,” he said. “And getting the community to know law enforcement and getting law enforcement to know the community, I think is very, very important. And I think the sheriff and the police chief have taken steps in that fashion.”