White House advisor tours Wilmington, applauds crime-reducing initiatives

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A top White House official was in the Port City on Wednesday, touting the Biden Administration’s efforts to help communities, like Wilmington, reduce crime.

White House Domestic Policy Advisor Neera Tanden toured several police facilities during her visit.

Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo and other city and county officials joined Tanden.

She saw a bomb-sniffing dog named Marian demonstrate her capabilities and checked out a shooting range where officers train and practice.

Tanden also saw a presentation about Wilmington’s violent crime stats, which she said are declining.

“That’s a testament to leadership,” Tanden said. “Leadership of Mayor Saffo, county leaders, the great leaders in the police department. It is really vital that we do everything we can to reduce crime. We believe public safety is a, is the first order of government and so I’m just impressed with what Wilmington is doing.”

Mayor Saffo said it’s important to show how well the different levels of government can work together to protect the community.

“We want to be able to demonstrate, to show to the federal government the assets that they have given us, what we’ve been able to do with them and how we have partnered, how we work together,” Saffo said. “Those are partnerships, those are working relationships that are invaluable. And then the assets that they have given us, from changing out our guns to the mobile command center, upgrading those things.”

Mayor Pro Tem Clifford Barnett said its special knowing other cities might soon be following Wilmington’s footsteps to reduce crime.

“When other people see what you’re doing and applaud it and say I want to emulate that, that’s always an honor,” Barnett said.

According to the Wilmington Police Department, between 2019 and 2023, violent crime decreased by 20% and there was a 41% decline in homicides.

Violent crimes in 2024 are down 4% from this time in 2023.