Mayor Ginther, County and Community Partners Address Increased Violence
Mayor Andrew J. Ginther was joined by other city, county and
community leaders to address the increase in violence in Columbus, laying out
collaborative initiatives to reach at-risk youth.
“The victims of shootings are not just numbers. They are our
brothers and sisters, moms and dads, cousins, nieces and nephews,” said Mayor
Ginther. “We cannot police our way out of the spike of violence we are
seeing today. Instead we are implementing a collaborative plan that addresses
violence on all fronts.”
Mayor Ginther announced the following:
- Micro-intervention teams of police officers,
social workers and juvenile court prosecutors reaching out to at-risk youth
with the offer of wrap-around services from Franklin County Jobs and Family
Services from the Family Stabilization Unit versus potential prosecution.
- Expanding ShotSpotter, a gun fire detection
system that has proven successful at getting police to crime scenes more
quickly, to the Near East neighborhood in addition to Hilltop, Linden and South
Side.
- Partnership between Grant Hospital, Columbus
Public Health and Recreation and Parks called VOICE (Violence Outreach,
Intervention, Community Engagement) to providing bedside intervention to
victims of assault and gunshot wounds to help them create opportunities for
change.
- Up to $2 million in CARES Act funding to partner
with social service agencies and trusted community partners embedded in
neighborhoods to reach out to youth directly -- leveraging existing
relationships and position of trust to provide intervention services and help
at-risk youth.
“The Family Stabilization Unit is designed to support
families who enter the system and to help them in every way possible,” said
Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce. “The idea is to connect with them
earlier and help mitigate any barriers or challenges they may be facing. Board
of Commissioner agencies will be working together to provide comprehensive wrap
around services to truly make an impact on the families in our community and I
believe that will be the difference.”
Police Chief Tom Quinlan announced CPD was developing
hot-spot mapping for gun violence to help reduce violence and starting a gun
safety campaign to encourage residents to report stolen guns and keep guns
safely secured at home.
“We must identify methods of reducing the consequences of
firearms in our community by focusing on those who are using guns in a criminal
manner,” said Chief Quinlan. “This is a partnership. The police are committed
to serving our neighborhoods. We ask criminal justice system to help keep our
community safe.”
Nana Watson, President of the Columbus chapter of the NAACP,
is working on a social media campaign with city and community partners focused
on getting a message out to youth Black children about gun Violence.
“We are fighting to win this battle against guns and gun
violence in our community,” said Watson. “And we are depending on all of you to
help.”