ST. LOUIS, MO – The Shaw Neighborhood Ownership Model (NOM) expands its annual campaign, which now includes four adjacent neighborhoods working together against celebratory gunfire this New Year’s Eve.
In 2018, The Shaw NOM launched an anti-gunfire campaign and distributed door hangers to every home and apartment building in the neighborhood to discourage illegal gunfire and provide resources to any residents who may be affected. Each year following this campaign, residents have reported on some of the safest celebrations ever. The St. Louis Police Department’s Second District recognized the program’s success and commended the work in the video online here. After several successful years, the Shaw NOM is working with four additional neighborhood organizations that will distribute door hangers in Tower Grove East, Botanical Heights, Forest Park Southeast and Tower Grove Heights.
Just after midnight on January 1, 2018, a number of serious incidents occurred in the Shaw Neighborhood of South St. Louis city; when residents engaged in rapid, mass gunfire lasting 45 minutes (complaint 18-000617). As reported by KMOV this incident included multiple shots fired in the Shaw neighborhood entered into various residences, shattering windows and nearly missing one woman by inches. An online video captures ten minutes of this rapid gunfire: https://bit.ly/2BSBHx9. The second event (complaint 18-000088) included reports of people carrying Ar-15 styled rifles who illegally fired celebratory rounds from their weapons.
The Shaw NOM collaborates with Tower Grove Baptist Church, which under the leadership of Pastor Mike Gregory engages their youth group to distribute door hangers as part of their regular activities. This year’s collaboration grows to include participation from the Tower Grove East Neighborhood Association, the Botanical Heights Neighborhood Association, the Forest Park Southeast Neighborhood Association, and the Tower Grove Heights Neighborhood Association. In addition to the door hangers, yard signs are placed along the Shaw neighborhood boundaries as a reminder to celebrate New Year’s Eve safely. This project is an example of one of many successes that are only possible when neighbors work hard, work together, and work in collaboration with city leadership to effect positive change and build safe communities.
The Shaw NOM is a citizen led neighborhood outreach organization dedicated to crime reduction through public safety promotion and best practices. In coordination with the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, the St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office and other neighborhood organizations, Shaw NOM volunteers are committed to reducing the ripple effect of crime and improving the quality of life in Shaw and surrounding neighborhoods.
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