Operation Lay it Down: Warner Robins Police Department unveils new community initiative

WARNER ROBINS – The Warner Robins Police Department is launching Operation Lay it Down in an effort to reduce gun violence in the city.

The department partnered with Combat Bullying and the family of a child who recently passed away to gun violence. The police department will be hosting its first anonymous firearm collection event on Saturday, Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Perkins Field.

Warner Robins Police Chief Wayne Fisher said the event will be for people to turn in a firearm they believe is stolen or of questionable origin that should not be in their household. This will serve as a location where they can surrender the weapon safely and securely. 

The department will then try to get the firearm back to its original owner and get firearms off the streets. This process will remain completely anonymous, and Fisher assures people will not get their photo taken or name recorded. 

During a press conference on Nov. 4, Mayor LaRhonda Patrick, Fisher and President of Combat Bullying Willie Raines provided more information on the program. 

Mayor Patrick said there has been an increase in crime in the community’s youth and part of the issue is dealing with firearms. 

“We want to make sure the community understands how we can play an impactful role in keeping that part of the crime down in our city,” she said. “Operation Lay it Down allows you a chance to play that role that we need you to help police our city by helping police our community and what’s happening inside your homes or buildings that you come in contact with.”

Patrick also took a moment to appreciate the victim’s family, who came up with the name of the operation. 

“I’m so proud to be here today; to show you how the city of Warner Robins did what we said we’re going to do. We said we wanted to do something about the increase in crime in our youth and we know that it’s dealing with guns,” she said. “This is a way that we can make sure that our community, the parents, the relatives and the loved ones who come in contact with a gun have a safe haven to bring that gun, lay it down and help keep our community safe.”

Patrick said the operation is about keeping kids safe and wants the city to be a beacon of light for the area. She said this is for the entire community, not just the youth, and looks forward to seeing people do their part in keeping the city safe.

“We are being proactive. We are setting a standard here. Please help us in accomplishing this mission to keep our community safe and get guns off the street and out of our children’s hands,” she said.

Fisher said the reason they created this program was because of the tragic crimes this past year. It will address the issue of stolen firearms, which is the cause of most of the recent crimes in the city.

He provided statistics and shared that in the city alone this year, there have been 552 entering auto reports so far. 120 of those reports involve stolen firearms from inside the car. Fisher also shared some of those vehicles had more than one firearm, resulting in 135 firearms being stolen.

He shared that the most shocking fact involves how many cars were unlocked. Out of 120 entering autos, only nine vehicles were secured. 

“The message that we are presenting here today is this as well, if you are a firearm owner, be responsible and secure your firearms. Do not leave them in your car as well as unlocked,” he said.

From the start of this year to present, Fisher said the department has secured 173 firearms into their property evidence, but they’ve had 135 stolen.

He said they have partnered with nearby communities and the operation will transcend beyond the city. He shared the most crucial need is a partnership in the community and they can not do it alone.

“I say this to everybody that hears my voice, if you come across that firearm in your house and you choose not to address that issue, you choose not to take responsibility and control of your household, if something harmful happens to your loved ones because of that firearm, you have a responsibility and accountability you have to live with,” he said.

Fisher said the program is an opportunity for the community to partner with them and potentially save lives. This is not just something residents of Warner Robins can participate in but also those who live in nearby communities.

“I am tired. I am tired and I am heartbroken as well as many of my officers to this. When we go to these calls where people have been injured, harmed or have given up their life because of this needless violence. It needs to stop. We can go so far but we need and can go much farther with the community support into Operation Lay it Down,” he said.

Raines speaks to young people around the world about bullying. Earlier last year, he was approached to about violence in the community and eventually Patrick got in contact with Raines.

From there, he put together a program called “Choices” in the school assembly program. The program is about young people making choices but not considering the consequences of them. He shares that in the school assemblies, he brings a casket out, he comes out in a jail uniform, and he begins telling the story of the choices he made that led him to being in jail.

“Because of that, that’s why I’m doing what I’m doing now. For the last 26 years, I’ve been doing this and fighting for this generation,” he said. “Every time we turn on the TV, we see another young person killing another person with a gun and the violence that we are seeing now amongst our young. This is not just something that is happening here in Houston County, it is happening around the world.” 

Raines also said this is a result of what young people see on social media. He said new music is promoting violence and this causes the youth to act out. Raines and Mayor Patrick also plan to teach the community’s youth about juvenile law in schools. 

“We come together to work together because it’s going to take an effort from everybody. Everybody has to work together; parents, you got to be careful, know what your kids have on social media because I’m seeing a lot of videos that your kids have guns and stuff,” he said. “If I can see it, they can see it. My question is, why you can’t see it? It’s going to take everybody working together to help save the lives of our youth. Working together, I believe that we can bring the crime rate down.”

The first anonymous firearms collection event will be held Nov. 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Perkins Field.