City Committee to Examine Gang Intervention Efforts

The City Council’s Public Safety Committee will receive an update on the ongoing progress of Gang Violence Outreach and Interruption Services being provided through a group of contractors who started working in December 2020 to help reduce gang and gun violence.

The contractors, Ricky Pickens, Mark Sutton and DeAndre Scott, have engaged with community members with gang connections or those who may have been caught up in cyclical and retaliatory gang-gun violence in order to reduce gang-gun violence and to help to restore peace in the community. 

The group makes referrals to service providers to ensure that individuals at the center of gang violence can pinpoint resources that could lead them to an alternative lifestyle, according to a city document. 

A preliminary report by the team showed 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 services include housing, childcare, job assistance, transportation, and mental health services. 

The team reported it prevented or interrupted 25 potential deadly gang retaliations or incidents of violence. 

Along with the update, the City Manager reported a new contract is being prepared for continuation of the services. Five potential contractors submitted bids.

Tuesday’s Public Safety Committee meeting begins at 4 p.m. To access the meeting, members of the community can visit http://pasadena.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?publish_id=9 and www.pasadenamedia.org. 

They may also provide live public comment by submitting a speaker card through www.cityofpasadena.net/commissions/public-comment.