Winston-Salem Public Safety Committee Meeting - September 14, 2026

The Public Safety Committee of the Winston-Salem City Council met on September 14, 2026, with all four members present. Chair Annette Scippio presided; Council Members Regina Hall, Vivián V. Joiner, and Scott Andree-Bowen were present. The committee approved its consent agenda, discussed the proposal to extend the Youth Protection Ordinance, and received an information-only update on camera technology and community trust.

Consent Calendar

• C-1: Approval of Public Safety Committee Summary of Minutes from August 10. Council Member Hall moved approval, Council Member Joiner seconded, and the motion carried 4-0.

Discussion Items

G-1: Proposal to Extend the Youth Protection Ordinance

• The Winston-Salem Police Chief presented the item. He said the ordinance has been enforced across the city, that nearly half of youth encounters occurred between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m., and that in each of the five incidents where at least one juvenile was charged, the curfew violation was accompanied by an additional charge. No juvenile has been charged solely for the curfew.
• The Chief cited local victimization data for 2021-2026 showing a significant drop in youth victims during curfew hours in 2026, noted at least two youth victims in 2025 were homicide victims, and cited a national NHTSA statistic showing driver fatality rates among 16- and 17-year-olds from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. are five times higher than daytime rates.
• The department's J-Rise follow-up program (Juvenile Response Intervention Support and Engagement) links juveniles and families to resources such as the Boys and Girls Club, Salvation Army, Police Athletic League, Filling Friends Community Center, and YMCA of North Carolina. The Chief asked for an extension to November 1 of next year, while committee members noted the ordinance text currently references an October date.
• Council Member Andree-Bowen stated he would vote no because the ordinance affects the rights of the people it would impact. Council Member Joiner said a curfew without accompanying programs is unfair and voted no. Chair Scippio and Council Member Hall supported the extension; Hall called the curfew a challenge to parents, and Scippio said she supported gathering a full year of data.
• Council Member Hall moved to recommend approval, seconded by Chair Scippio. The motion failed 2-2. The item was forwarded to the City Council meeting on October 5, 2026, without the committee's recommendation. Staff noted the item would go to council regardless and discussed how to schedule public comment before council action.

G-2: Update on Camera Technology and Community Trust

• Assistant Chief J. Gomez reported that the Winston-Salem Police Department does not use Flock cameras, has no intention of procuring them, and never executed the proposed 2023 contract for 25 Flock cameras. Private businesses, HOAs, and other entities may own Flock cameras, and police may request their footage when relevant to an investigation.
• The department uses Fusus and Axon systems, governed by North Carolina General Statute and restricted to criminal investigations and missing person cases, not traffic enforcement. Access is limited to trained, designated personnel; the city owns and controls its data; and outside agencies must submit a formal, case-linked request to obtain information.
• Gomez said resident camera registration and business camera integration are voluntary. The vendor reported no known breaches as of September 2, 2026, and the system meets criminal justice information sharing standards. Successes include solving homicides, recovering stolen vehicles, and locating a missing autistic child downtown about 10 miles from home.
• This item was information only; no vote was taken.

Staff Comments

• Assistant City Manager Sharon Wojda announced that the next Public Safety Committee meeting will include an Emergency Management update from August Vernon and recognition of a firefighter selected for a statewide task force.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda approved 4-0.
• Youth Protection Ordinance extension failed to receive committee recommendation in a 2-2 vote and was forwarded without recommendation to the City Council on October 5, 2026.
• Camera technology update was received as information only.
• Meeting adjourned at 3:06 p.m.