On Wednesday, January 31, 2024, dozens of leaders stood by Mayor Lester Miller inside Commission Chambers as he announced promising news for the future of our community. 

“From 2022 to 2023, I am proud to say we had a nearly 43% reduction in homicides, from 70 to 40,” Mayor Miller told the crowd.
 

The reduction in homicides for children (those 18 years old and younger) went from 15 in 2022 to 5 in 2023 – which is a 66.7% reduction in just one year. 

 “Both numbers are still higher than we deserve in Macon-Bibb County, but this is the largest decrease we’ve had in recent memory,” said Mayor Miller. “And I credit that to the work of the people in this room.” 

 Mayor Miller was joined by Sheriff David Davis, U.S. Attorney Peter Leary, District Attorney Anita Howard, Fire Chief Shane Edwards, and many partners of our Macon Violence Prevention (MVP). 

 “Things are working. Things are changing, and it takes all of us to make that happen,” said Kathryn Dennis, President of the Community Foundation of Central Georgia. “You’re part of it. Don’t be on the outside Monday morning quarterbacking, get in there and play with us.” 

“Not only are we giving MVP funding  to nonprofits and organizations who have never received funding, but we are building organizations that are going to assist us in the future and continue helping us reach our goal,” said MVP Director Jeremy Grissom.  

While other cities in Georgia and around the country also had a decline in their homicide rate, Macon-Bibb County’s 43% far surpassed them. Atlanta had a 21% decline, Columbus a 12%, Savannah a 13%, Mobile, Alabama a 21%, and Jackson, Mississippi a 14%.  

“I applaud our community for the feedback and for stepping forward on their own,” said Mayor Miller. “And though our work is far from over, what we’ve done and will continue to do is not going unnoticed.”