U.S. Deputy Marshal Mark Pitella visited the St. Louis region on Monday, June 10 to speak with community leaders and local law enforcement as part of an engagement campaign on violent crime held by the U.S. Marshals Service in the Department of Justice (DOJ).
Representatives from EWG and Greater St. Louis, Inc. (GSL) were invited to participate and discuss an initial GSL White Paper on the need for a regional anti-violence approach and the ensuring work on the Save Lives Now! Collaborative Regional Anti-Violence Initiative, which aims to reduce shootings and homicides by 20% over three years.
Meetings were held at the East St. Louis Municipal Complex and on the campus of Washington University. The gatherings were part of the DOJ’s efforts to educate individuals and groups about Project Safe Neighborhoods, Operation North Star, and its Violent Crime Initiative to gain feedback and partnership among individuals and groups working on the frontlines of violence prevention, particularly among youth.
Operation North Star is an intensive fugitive apprehension initiative aimed at rapidly combating violent crime and illegal gun possession in cities with significant numbers of homicides and shootings. Project Safe Neighborhoods brings together federal, state and local, law enforcement officials, prosecutors, community leaders, and other stakeholders to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in a community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. The Violent Crime Initiative (VCI) focuses on gangs and organized crime within specific regions. In April, the DOJ announced that the VCI program would expand to include the St. Louis region.
During the East St. Louis meeting, youth services and early intervention were top of mind among a group of 25 participants who participated in a community roundtable that included clergy, educators, law enforcement leaders, educators, and civic groups. Later that day, at Washington University, St. Louis-based U.S. Attorney Sayler Fleming led a panel on local crime initiatives as well as the anti-violence engagement work being done with youth within St. Louis Public Schools. As part of the discussion, Fleming highlighted the Save Lives Now! initiative and the anti-violence techniques that can be used to identify, address, and redirect those at risk for committing violent crime. Those methods include focused deterrence, cognitive behavioral therapy, and street outreach. (Read more here.)
Fleming announced that more than 80 DOJ grant opportunities are available for law enforcement and anti-violence service providers in the the St. Louis region. Two information seminars are tentatively scheduled for July 9. One seminar will focus on grants for law enforcement, the second, hosted by St. Louis Mayor Tishaura Jones’ office, will focus on opportunities for community organizations and other non-law enforcement groups focused on violence prevention or reduction.