Port City United employee talks on how they’re fighting for a safer community

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — In New Hanover County, Port City United aims to prevent violence and build a better future for everyone.

The department hosts events to help people find jobs, offer legal information, and connect with education resources. In addition to those community outreach events, “violence interrupters” put themselves in what can be dangerous situations to help make the community safer.

“You’re risking your life to save everyone else’s lives,” said Dune Waddell, a violence interrupter for Port City United. “It’s not an easy task. You know what I’m saying? Nobody really understands what it takes to prevent violence. It’s a hard thing to do.”

Waddell explains it’s far from a 9 am to 5 pm desk job. From interrupting violence to preventing it before it even happens.

“It’s 25/8,” said Waddell. “We’ve got our call team that’s open 24 hours, call anytime. It’s still us pushing that message out that anytime you need us we’re there. Even in the school system, we’ve got a team in the school system and these kids need us there all the time. You never know what the next kid is going through family wise, or parents. It’s a lot to fight but it’s about breaking that barrier and getting to their hearts to find out where they’re coming from and how we can help.”

County Commissioner Jonathan Barfield applauds the work Port City United is doing in the community and acknowledges the risk associated with working as a violence interrupter.

“You’re going into a situation where you have no gun, no badge, no bullet-proof vest, and you’re going into these hostile situations trying to de-escalate things on behalf of our community,” said Barfield.

However, Port City United has not been without its challenges. Following an incident where one of its employees was arrested in connection to a shooting in Wilmington, the department faced criticism. Commissioner Barfield believes one incident should not define any department in county government.

“To me, it’s a dangerous job that they’re performing but it’s something that’s a great benefit for our community as a whole,” said Barfield. “If we judge people on their worst day, I don’t think any of us would ever make it anywhere.”

For Waddell and many others who make up Port City United, the work they do provides a sense of purpose.

“We come together and brainstorm solutions after solutions and problems after problems. We come together and fight to make sure that it’s at least desisted in a way that we can wake up tomorrow,” said Waddell.

It’s not only the people who make up the department who are working to come together. Dune explains it’s concerted effort to reduce violence and make New Hanover County a safer, more successful community for everyone.

“Port City United is us unifying. Building our youth to be successful and grow to whatever they want to be,” said Waddell. “I want them to know Port City United are true fighters.”

While Port City United has been funded using American Rescue Plan Act funds since its inception in 2022, Commissioner Barfield explained the creation of the department did not rely on those funds. Instead, in the early discussions about the creation of Port City United, the county intended to use money from the sale of New Hanover Regional Medical Center to get the department up and running. When the ARPA funds became available, the county utilized them to fund the department.