Mayor Ed Gainey gathered with police and city officials on National Gun Violence Awareness Day on Friday to present his vision for preventing violence in Pittsburgh. “Today, our message to Pittsburgh residents and visitors is that public safety is the number one priority,” Gainey said. In a news conference held in a lot outside a community center in the city’s Beltzhoover neighborhood, he unveiled the “Pittsburgh Plan for Peace,” his commitment to a public health approach to preventing violence.He said the effort would be guided by six goals and objectives, including commitments to a public health model, community partnerships, trauma-informed community services, community policing, community development, and both “creating a learning environment and governing with data.” As outlined, the public health model aims to use resources to care for and help victims and survivors.While the plan talks about community partnerships. Gainey said it doesn’t replace or conflict with law enforcement. “A public health approach to eliminate violence does not replace – nor is it in conflict – with law enforcement. Let me be clear with that. Creating safety for all requires a range of strategies, “Gainey said. In fact, the Mayor described targeting some people and places for strong enforcement.” that we are experiencing, “Gainey said. “This entails a short term focus on a specific location where violent crime is concentrated and prioritize street-level deterrence and arrest of repeat offenders in these areas.” Gainey’s plan will expand what the city calls Crisis Response Intervention Teams workers in unmarked police vehicles. The plan says social workers, emergency medical technicians and paramedics can become the first responder when the situation doesn’t require an armed officer.The Gainey plan also continues Pittsburgh’s existing group violence intervention unit, community partnership Outreach and community policing. officers and community work together do we see safe communities, “the Mayor said. “Our plan for peace will not produce results overnight. Because it’s going to take all of us. You’ve heard me say before, it takes all of us. These are our children, this is our city,” Gainey said. says the effort will be guided by data, analyzing and acting on what results data shows the plan brings. “I’m committed to this. I’m committed to public safety and I’m committed to making sure that we work together to achieve it. “Council member Rev. Ricky Burgess told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4: “It’s a comprehensive, coordinated public health approach that has both the mayor’s commitment and the resources to put all the pieces in place. You have the right policing model, you have the right community partners, you ‘ re providing the right services and the goal of community Transformation for development. “Gainey is creating a” Stop the Violence Community Grant Program “to assist organizations working on the issue.Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt said the city is working with a consulting firm to analyze Pittsburgh police Staffing levels.
Mayor Ed Gainey gathered with police and city officials on National Gun Violence Awareness Day on Friday to present his vision for preventing violence in Pittsburgh.
“Today our message to Pittsburgh residents and visitors is that public safety is the number one priority,” Gainey said.
In a news conference held in a lot outside the community center in the city’s Beltzhoover neighborhood, he unveiled the “Pittsburgh Plan for Peace,” his commitment to a public health approach to preventing violence.
They said the effort would be guided by six goals and objectives, including commitments to a public health model, community partnerships, trauma-informed community services, community policing, community development, and both “creating a learning environment and managing with data.”
As outlined, the public health model aims to use resources to care for and help victims and survivors.
While the plan talks about community partnerships. Gainey said it doesn’t replace or conflict with law enforcement.
“A public health approach to eliminate violence does not replace – nor is it in conflict – with law enforcement. Let me be clear with that. Creating safety for all requires a range of strategies,” Gainey said.
In fact, the Mayor described targeting some people and places for strong enforcement.
“We know that in our city there’s about 200 people in groups of eight to ten in a couple of dozen locations that are causing the violent crimes that we are experiencing,” Gainey said. “This entails a short term focus on a specific location where violent crime is concentrated and prioritize street-level deterrence and arrest of repeat offenders in these areas.”
Gainey’s plan will expand what the city calls Crisis Response Intervention Teams, pairing police officers with social workers in unmarked police vehicles. The plan says social workers, emergency medical technicians and paramedics can become the first responder when the situation doesn’t require an armed Officer.
The Gainey plan also continues Pittsburgh’s existing group violence intervention unit, community partnership outreach and community policing.
“Only when our officers and community work together do we see safe communities,” the Mayor said. “Our plan for peace will not produce results overnight. Because it’s going to take all of us. You’ve heard me say before, it takes all of us. These are our children, this is our city,” Gainey said.
The Mayor says the effort will be guided by data, analyzing and acting on what results data shows the plan brings.
“I’m committed to this. I’m committed to public safety and I’m committed to making sure we work together to achieve it.”
Council member Rev. Ricky Burgess told Pittsburgh’s Action News 4: “It’s a comprehensive, coordinated public health approach that has both the mayor’s commitment and the resources to put all the pieces in place. You have the right policing model, you have the right community partners, you ‘ re providing the right services and the goal of community Transformation for development. “
Gainey is creating a “Stop the Violence Community Grant Program” to assist organizations working on the issue.
Public Safety Director Lee Schmidt said the city is working with a consulting firm to analyze Pittsburgh police staffing levels.
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