TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) — A new police chief is in town with a new vision for the city of Tallahassee with the same focus of making the city a safer place.
Monday, Chief Lawrence Revell was sworn in on Tallahassee's Southside at Jack McLean Community Center.
Revell says it's time to get to work. He's now asking for communities in Tallahassee to help him take down the city's crime problem.
"We know that in almost all crime there are witnesses. They see what happens but they're too scared to come forward for a variety of reasons so we've got to build that trust," Revell said.
Chief Lawrence Revell says to make the city safer, he wants to build bonds with people across Tallahassee, from those who were born and raised here to the people who help lead the city.
"FSU, the sheriff's office and TCC and FAMU... all of us at the same table to talk about violence not only around campus but all around Tallahassee," said Revell.
2019 was one of the most violent years the city has seen in some time, with at least 70 shootings that ended with high school students dead.
"Take your guns inside. We know that the vast majority of guns that are ending up on the streets are being taken from unlocked cars," said Revell. "We've got to do a better job as a community to heed that message."
City leaders are ready for this chief to take action.
"It's time for all of us now to come together now to address the crime issues that impact neighborhoods throughout this community," said Tallahassee City Commissioner Curtis Richardson.
Revell knows he can't do it all alone, so recruiting the brightest and best tops his priority list as he starts this new era at TPD.
While Revell gets settled into his position, Interim Chief Steve Outlaw will still be around for the next two weeks to help with the transition process.
