Lynchburg officials say they’re taking steps to address a recent uptick in violence in the city. On Monday afternoon, two groups of people shot at each other in the parking lot of the Family Dollar store on Fifth Street, hitting nearby businesses and cars. Wednesday night, a teenager was injured by a shattered windshield from a car that was shot at apartments on Belle Terre Drive. Today, Lynchburg Manager Wynter Benda said Lynchburg police officers will become the highest paid in the region:
Benda says the city still needs to address other issues but this is an important first step. Police Chief Ryan Zuidema said he has 28 vacancies within the police department and he thinks the salary increase will be a “game changer.”
Zuidema also says the community can do more to work on problems before they arise.