Home OP-ED Proven Methods That Tame Rampant Violence

Proven Methods That Tame Rampant Violence

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Mr. Harris-Dawson

[Editor’s Note: Mr. Harris Dawson is in his first months as a member of the Los Angeles City Council, representing District 8, neighborhoods of South Los Angeles.] 

We have seen this far too often.

The tragic death of an innocent young black male whose life was taken too soon at the hands of an ill-timed police shooting, eliciting a mass protest, a passionate plea by black leaders to reform our crimi­nal justice system and com­bat the structural racism embedded in police departments across the na­tion.

This summer in cit­ies across the country and here in Los Angeles, we saw a dramatic increase in homicides in our community.

We need to take a serious look at the disproportionate murders of black men caused by gang violence.

We need to move to sound prevention and inter­ventions strategies that will save lives.

LAPD’s 77th Division, in the dis­trict I represent, has reported the highest number of ho­micides, 43 murders. Almost all  victims were young black men. They died at the hands of other black men. Nationally, the FBI found that black-on-black violence accounted for 91 percent of homicides vs. only 9 percent for white-on-black violence and black violence that involved oth­er groups.

Taking a Wrong Turn

After years of a steady decline in crime, by early September, LAPD reported a 7 percent increase in the num­ber of people killed in Los Angeles in comparison to last year. Yet on a national level, other major cities have out­paced Los Angeles with year-to-year sharp increas­es in murder rates — 56 percent in Baltimore, 60 percent in St. Louis. Experts say the high rates directly cor­relate to unemployment and a lack of opportunities for youth.

While homicide rates in Los Angeles have been sig­nificantly lower than other major cities, we must do more to prevent blood­shed on our streets. Nation­ally, and in Los Angeles, it is time to rethink our ap­proach to urban violence.

I am proposing larger invest­ments in proven programs that prevent crime as well as effective interventions when we see troubling trends emerging. Equally important is engaging com­munity members where the problems are, gather­ing information from those most affected by the vio­lence.

Two weeks ago, I convened an emergency meeting of 400 South L.A. residents to talk about the surge in shoot­ings. Families who have lost loved ones, interven­tion workers, LAPD and clergy all talked about how the recent ho­micides have affected their sense of safety, a need for new policing measures to be implemented, and how they can be a part of the solution.

This was a true cry for action and leadership on this issue.

With respect to the city’s crime levels, one reason our city has been able to maintain low­er homicide rates, is the city’s gang intervention movement.

Peacekeepers on the front lines who can suppress disputes between gangs in ways that police are unable to, intervene when tensions run high. Their immeasurable im­pact is critical to restor­ing peace. We must do more to expand their impact.

Along with gang inter­ventionists, there been a long history of activism in the community with indi­viduals like Gerald Thomp­son and Khalid Shaw. They have been on the front lines. They have worked with South L.A. youth to reduce violent crimes altogether. These community heroes do not always garner press cover­age, but they should be heralded in the community for their work.

The city as a whole needs more resources to target programs that save lives. Some successful community-based policing programs have made a sig­nificant impact in the past 25 years such as LAPD’s Community Safety Partner­ship. This is an intensive experiment in community- oriented po­licing in four housing de­velopments that reduced crime and is supported by law enforcement and com­munity members. I was told these programs come at a high cost for taxpayers.

For me, though, no dollar amount is more signifi­cant than saving a life.

To begin this dialogue, I have asked that the LAPD, City Atty. Mike Feuer, and Mayor Garcetti’s Office of Gang Reduction and Youth Development to provide a report with comprehensive rec­ommendations to stop these shootings as well as how we can incorporate communi­ty-based policing strategies more broadly throughout the effected communities.

I have asked that our intervention agencies con­vene monthly to provide progress reports and report on additional strategies that need to be employed.

To prevent further loss of life, it will take an innovative, holistic approach where law enforcement, interven­tionists and the community work in tandem with each other to rebuild South L.A.

Mr. Harris- Dawson, represents Council District 8, which encompasses parts of South Los Angeles. He is the co-Chair of the Home­lessness and Poverty Committee and Vice-Chair of the Planning and Land Use Management Committee.

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