Our Town

“Working Together for a Safer Community”
Throughout the year, the Kernersville Police Department works hard to improve safety in our town. This week, May 14th – May 21st, our town is recognizing Law Enforcement Officers Week, joining with communities across our state and nation in recognizing our law enforcement officers, past and present, and expressing appreciation for their efforts and dedication to keeping our community safe.
One of the ways our community fights crime is by citizens stepping up and reporting suspicious activity, and Kernersville residents are encouraged to call the police department if they notice anything of concern. Citizens are the eyes and ears of the police department and alert citizens can help prevent crime and keep our community safe.
Neighborhood watch programs are strong in Kernersville, and the Kernersville Police Department works with citizens who do not currently have a neighborhood watch program and would like to establish the program in their neighborhood. Officer Blake Jones, the crime prevention coordinator, works directly with citizens on these and other crime prevention efforts. Officer Jones can be reached at 336-996-2294.
This week, the Kernersville Police Department is offering “Coffee with a Cop”, a free event, on Wednesday, May 17th from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Wired Café, at 126 S. Main Street in downtown Kernersville. This is an informal opportunity to meet law enforcement in our community, ask questions, and learn more about the Kernersville Police Department.
Another event that allows citizens to learn more about law enforcement in our community is National Night Out, held in August of each year. In neighborhoods and at the Kernersville Police Department, citizens can talk with police officers, see the equipment that our police department deploys, and learn more about local efforts to combat crime.
Throughout the year, at community events like Spring Folly, Earth Day, and the Honeybee Festival, the police department reaches out to the community. Postings on the official Town of Kernersville Facebook page, including press releases about crimes and upcoming safety programs, encourages the community to connect with the police department.
Efforts to fight crime and enhance public safety include working cooperatively with other law enforcement agencies, including coordinated efforts between local law enforcement agencies to address DWI accidents in Forsyth County. Since 2010, Kernersville has participated in the DWI taskforce, a targeted enforcement effort that has been very successful in reducing the number of alcohol and drug related injuries and fatalities on our streets and highways, and which has become a model for law enforcement efforts in our state.
Another important effort is the School Resource Officer (SRO) program. A cooperative effort of the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools and the Kernersville Police Department, the SRO program allows law enforcement to be involved in our schools. Officers get to know the students, and the students know and trust the officers. Building these relationships provides a positive role model for students. The partnership between the school and law enforcement also helps deter crime, and can be important in investigating crime.
Throughout the year, working cooperatively with other enforcement agencies, the school system, and our citizens, the Kernersville Police Department continues to be proactive in enhancing public safety, and keeping Kernersville a great place to live, work, and raise a family.
Dawn Morgan is the Mayor of Kernersville and writes a weekly column for the News.