Green Bay to close the Office of Violence Prevention

GREEN BAY, WI—(WGBW)— The Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) in Green Bay will close after operating for only two years. A press release from the city said the reasoning is due to uncertain state and federal funding.

This announcement comes as Green Bay experiences promising trends in public safety. The city saw a peak in gun violence in 2021, with 82 reported shots-fired incidents. By 2024, that number had dropped to 24—a nearly 71% decrease in three years. Homicides fell by 67% between 2023 and 2024, and overdoses decreased by 63%. Overall crime declined by 1.58% in 2024, with property crimes at a 10-year low. 

The Office of Violence Prevention was established in 2023 with a grant from the Wisconsin Community Safety Fund. That fund was created using federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The OVP operated in neighborhoods affected the most by violence using a behavioral theory model that recognized harmful behaviors that result from patterns shaped by trauma and chronic stress. The model addresses these issues through coaching that helps individuals identify their emotional and behavioral triggers.

At the OVP community space on Irwin Avenue, the city offers resources for positive youth development, life skills programming, and creative expression to participants at risk of involvement in violence. 

The OVP violence interruption programming will end this summer. OVP Director Andrea Kressin will remain in her role through the end of 2025 to assess how OVP initiatives can be continued elsewhere in Green Bay.