Gang Violence Outreach Team Says It Interrupted 25 Potentially Deadly Gang Attacks and Retaliations

The Public Safety Committee heard reports about the recent implementation of Gang Violence Outreach and Interruption Services by a group of contractors who started working in 2021 when Pasadena saw an uptick in gun violence. 

At Wednesday’s meeting, one of the contractors, Ricky Pickens reported that the gang intervention team has logged over 2,000 phone calls since January 2021 engaging with gang involved/gang-impacted individuals, assisted 47 gang-involved people in obtaining employment, and referred and assisted 205 gang-involved/gang-impacted individuals with access to services. 

The team, who works at street level directly with gang-involved individuals, has also interrupted 25 potential deadly gang- retaliations or incidents of violence, according to Pickens.

The services being offered by the team include housing, childcare, job assistance, transportation, and mental health services. 

Pickens said the team has been using various approaches to interrupt and prevent gang shootings including street mediation, rumor control, crisis intervention and talking one-on-one with key players. 

“The most important thing in violence interruption is relationship. When you have a relationship with this population you are able to talk to people and get access to those who are close to the center of violence,” Pickens said.

“Through the conversation, we will learn what some of the root causes are and that is when we try to offer alternatives,” he added.

“We should continue to think about ways to measure the success of these efforts,” Councilmember Steve Madison told the team at the meeting. “Work as hard as you work, hopefully with the same success then it’s incumbent upon us to get to these kids early and offer real alternatives to them so they would choose a different path.” 

Councilmember Tyron Hampton urged the city staff explore the possibility of providing resources to incentivize participants so they would continue choosing an alternative lifestyle.

“Outside of the brotherhood, there is an economic piece to it,” Hampton stressed. 

Mayor Victor Gordo said Hampton’s idea of providing resources to incentivize people is something that the city should pursue to prove that it is committed in helping people to make a decision “to leave the lifestyle and stay on the right track to becoming a product resident of Pasadena by working in your own city.” 

“Look at our jobs programs as an opportunity to connect all of these other programs,” Gordo further said.

City Manager Cynthia Kurtz reported a new contract is being prepared for continuation of the Gang Violence Outreach and Interruption Services. 

Five potential contractors submitted bids with the proposal submitted by Prickens scoring the highest.

The staff will return to the City Council at a future meeting to recommend a contract award as a result of the Competitive Selection Process.