Glover announces expansion of anti-gang program across Contra Costa, seeks coordinator
Operation Ceasefire is a problem-oriented policing intervention aimed at reducing youth homicide and youth firearms violence. Began in Boston, it has been adopted by Chicago, Cincinnati and Indianapolis, and these cities achieved reductions in gun homicide of 25 to over 60 percent. In California, Stockton reduced gun homicide by more than 43 percent between 1998 and 2001. The Contra Costa’s District Attorney’s Office has been operating a pilot program in Richmond for several years.
“We have been monitoring the success of Ceasefire in Richmond since I chaired the Public Protection Committee,” of the county, said Supervisor Federal Glover. “There has been a significant drop in violent crime in Richmond and we want to spread the program countywide.”
This strategy, based upon extensive research and experience, has evolved from a primary focus on deterring serious gang and youth gun violence, to a comprehensive approach that combines deterrence with workforce training, employment, and other services.
According to the Northern District of California U.S. Attorney’s Office, “The Operation Ceasefire model is being used in California under the program name Safe Community Partnership (SCP). The SCP is a partnership among the Governor’s Office, private funders (including the California Wellness Foundation, the California Endowment, and Kaiser Permanente, Community Benefits, Northern California Region), the Public Health Institute, and six California cities (Modesto, Stockton, Oakland, Salinas, Oxnard and Union City). These partners are working together to implement an evidence-based, data-driven approach designed to reduce serious gang violence in the near term and on a community-wide level. In addition to Oakland and Salinas in the Northern District, East Palo Alto, Richmond and Union City have been added to the Safe Community Partnership/Operation Ceasefire program.”
Contra Costa County is searching for a coordinator for the Ceasefire program, which will be run out of the County Administrator’s Office and work across the various county departments, including the District Attorney’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, Probation and Health Services. A Request for Qualifications (RFQ) has been issued for individuals interested in the position of coordinator.
Interested individuals can view the RFQ at: http://www.cccounty.us/2366/Services-Programs
Final responses will be due at 651 Pine Street, 10th floor, Martinez, CA 94553 by noon, Nov. 17, 2016. Questions about the RFQ can be submitted to lara.delaney@cao.cccounty.us by 12 p.m. on Nov. 7, 2016.
“Reaching out to these gang members, or people who are thinking about joining a gang, might make them think twice before they break the law or commit an act of violence,” said Glover. “Ceasefire will help reduce incarceration and, in the end, reduce the social and financial costs for our society.”
For more information about Operation Ceasefire, click here.
Smoke & mirrors to get elected. I don’t buy it. Something should have been done like this years ago. Why doesn’t Glover inform what gangs are here now and were relocated to Antioch. Let’s be honest about what is really going on with the gang problem in East Contra Costa. Los Angelos has programs that should be implemented here asap. Enough of these shootings! Give of us a list current gangs residing in ECC.