Nearly two years after beginning the search, the City of Fayetteville has hired a director for its new Office of Community Safety. 

Fayetteville-native John Jones will serve as the first-ever director of the OCS, the city said in an announcement Wednesday. Jones brings extensive experience in community safety, violence intervention and public health coordination, the city said. The OCS is a newly established office that combines the city’s initiatives of violence reduction, mental health response, homelessness reduction, and youth opportunity. 

Jones grew up in Fayetteville and is a graduate of Freedom Christian Academy. Jones earned a bachelor’s degree in pastoral theology from Columbia International University in Columbia, South Carolina. He previously served as community engagement and rapid response lead for Chicago’s Community Safety Coordination Center. There, he spearheaded initiatives aimed at violence prevention and rapid response to critical incidents, directly impacting communities of more than 600,000 residents. His strategic leadership was instrumental in developing and implementing Chicago’s Rapid Response Plan, significantly enhancing community resilience and safety, the announcement said. 

“John is uniquely suited for this role, given his background in managing complex, community-focused safety initiatives,” City Manager Doug Hewett said. “Under his leadership, we expect the Office of Community Safety to set a new standard for how cities proactively address public safety and community wellness.” 

According to the city, Jones’ expertise also extends to facilitating cross-sector partnerships with law enforcement, public health agencies, educational institutions and community organizations. One example is managing multi-million-dollar budgets and coordinating large-scale initiatives such as the $3.5 million Healthy Chicago Equity Zones program. 

As OCS Director, Jones will oversee initiatives funded through a combined $4 million allocation, focusing on mental health diversion, violence prevention, homelessness risk reduction and enhancing youth opportunities.

 “I am deeply honored to lead Fayetteville’s Office of Community Safety,” Jones said. “I look forward to working alongside residents, local organizations, and city leaders to foster innovative and equitable safety strategies that improve the quality of life for everyone in Fayetteville.”