John Jones has been named the director of the City of Fayetteville’s newly established Office of Community Safety (OCS).
Jones brings extensive experience in community safety, violence intervention and public health coordination, positioning him to lead Fayetteville’s comprehensive efforts to address violence reduction, mental health response, homelessness and youth opportunity.
Jones grew up in Fayetteville and is a graduate from Freedom Christian Academy. He previously served as community engagement and rapid response lead for Chicago's Community Safety Coordination Center. There, he spearheaded multi-agency initiatives aimed at violence prevention and rapid response to critical incidents, directly impacting communities of more than 600,000 residents. His strategic leadership was instrumental in developing and implementing Chicago's Rapid Response Plan, significantly enhancing community resilience and safety.
“John is uniquely suited for this role, given his background in managing complex, community-focused safety initiatives," said City Manager Douglas J. Hewett in a press release. "Under his leadership, we expect the Office of Community Safety to set a new standard for how cities proactively address public safety and community wellness."
Jones' expertise also extends to facilitating cross-sector partnerships with law enforcement, public health agencies, educational institutions and community organizations. One example is managing multi-million-dollar budgets and coordinating large-scale initiatives such as the $3.5 million Healthy Chicago Equity Zones program.
As OCS Director, Jones will oversee initiatives funded through a combined $4 million allocation, focusing on mental health diversion, violence prevention, homelessness risk reduction, and enhancing youth opportunities.
"I am deeply honored to lead Fayetteville’s Office of Community Safety,” said Jones in a press release. “I look forward to working alongside residents, local organizations and city leaders to foster innovative and equitable safety strategies that improve the quality of life for everyone in Fayetteville."
Jones earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Pastoral Theology from Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina.
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