William C. "Bill" Dusch, City of Concord | City of Concord website
William C. "Bill" Dusch, City of Concord | City of Concord website
The City of Concord recognized 20 community members who completed the Citizen Public Safety Academy at a graduation banquet held at City Hall. The event included Mayor Bill Dusch, City Council members, and City leaders, who praised the graduates for their commitment to understanding the City's public safety departments and collaborating to enhance neighborhood safety.
Concord is praised for maintaining a high standard of safety despite rapid growth. A ConsumerAffairs report ranked Concord in the top 10 cities to move to within North Carolina, attributing its 5th highest safety rating among 40 cities as a significant factor.
The eight-week program offers insights into the day-to-day operations of the police, fire, and communications departments. Participants gain a deeper appreciation for first responders' efforts, fostering community relations and enabling graduates to share their knowledge as city ambassadors in their neighborhoods.
The 2025 graduates include Gabe Aldridge, Cora Billingsley, Lauren Brooks, Beth Butchko, Kenneth Cox, Nikki Jones, Jack Lambert, Jia Li, Greg Murphy, Kathy Murphy, Earl Myers, Robin Patterson, Stephanie Patterson, Brent Plott, Andreina Ramirez, Mondo Santacruz, Don Seitz, Tanisha Smoutherson, Lisa Velazquez, and Catherine Whiteford.
The Citizen Public Safety Academy is held annually during winter. The upcoming program is scheduled to start in February 2026. Additional details can be found at concordnc.gov/publicsafetyacademy.
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