Originally published in Wayne-County on 02/12/06.

Federal and local officials will seek residents' input on a deterrence plan at a town hall meeting Wednesday.

Darren A. Nichols / The Detroit News

INKSTER – Spurred by a spike in gun-related deaths, law enforcement officials will work with residents to design a plan to reduce gun crimes in Inkster.

They will start the campaign against gunplay with a town hall meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

U.S. Attorney Steven J. Murphy will be among the local and national law enforcement officials who will attend the session at Booker T. Dozier Recreation Complex, 2025 Middle Belt, just north of Michigan Avenue.

"What we're looking for is answers to how we can better protect and patrol the city to reduce the incidents of crime and violence in the city," said Inkster Police Chief Gregory Gaskin.

"We thought it was best to kind of grab the bull by the horn. We want to hear what they want from the Police Department."

The event will be hosted by the Project Safe Neighborhoods Task Force, Inkster Weed & Seed initiative and the Police Department.

They came together after a spike in homicides in Inkster last year. Murders in the city of about 30,000 increased from six in 2004 to 14 in 2005, Gaskin said.

In nearby Detroit, homicides decreased by 10, from 384 in 2004 to 374 in 2005. Some precincts reported double-digit decreases and attributed the decline, in part, to a program called the Joshua Project.

It keeps gun crime offenders on a short leash by targeting members of gangs and pressuring all of them if one is suspected of a crime.

Gaskin said Inkster's 2005 homicide rate was comparable to 2004's until the last two months, when seven murders were reported.

The Project Safe Neighborhood Task Force recently launched a campaign with the theme "Help Us Help You."

The goal is to help residents understand their role in crime prevention.

Others who are expected to attend Wednesday's session include representatives of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office; and the 22nd District Court.

"This is an important example of how we are proactively working with communities to reduce the plague of gun violence," Murphy said.

You can reach Darren A. Nichols at (734) 462-2190 or dnichols@detnews.com.