CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (WINA) – Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis has wasted no time in looking at major actions in response to the city’s four homicides in just eight weeks, including a gun buyback program.

City Manager Michael Rogers presented the possible actions being during last night’s City Council meeting.

“Chief Kochis has assigned a sergeant as a community involvement coordinator who has begun looking at programs designed to involve the community in addressing the complex issues and be able to build trust,” he told Council. “The coordinator is currently looking at a gun buyback program.”

It’s just one of several options Chief Kochis is weighing.

“Currently, also, this is an important point,” Rogers said. “The University of Virginia has robust community alert system that is sent out from the ECC, the Emergency Communications Center. Chief Kochis is looking into this system to see if it is  something we will work.”

The city currently relies on social media platforms and new outlets to report to the community. City Manager Rogers has asked the city’s IT director to look into extending the city alert system to residents. He will report back to Council at a later meeting.

These actions follows a February 27th community meeting that included good turnout and robust discussion on how to address Charlottesville shootings. Chief Kochis hopes to hold more in the future.