New initiative aims to make Downtown Huntington safer

City leaders have launched an initiative aimed at strengthening safety in downtown Huntington. The effort will include additional police presence in the form of foot and bicycle patrols as Huntington police collaborate with health care professionals to help first responders recognize the difference between crime and personal crisis situations. The increase in patrols is part of a larger effort to reduce visible crime activity and ensure downtown remains a place, according to organizers.