DETROIT – Several community groups are making it their mission to help reduce violent crime in Detroit.
According to data the city released on Tuesday, March 12, those organizations are succeeding in their efforts.
Deputy Mayor Todd Bettison and representatives from a couple of the city of Detroit’s ShotStopper program gathered for a media briefing at the Northwest Activities Center.
They revealed the city’s Community Violence Intervention partners have collectively helped reduce homicides and non-fatal shootings by significant numbers.
Among them is Force Detroit.
According to city of Detroit data, that group’s intervention and care assistance has helped reduce violent crime by 72% around the Warrendale and Franklin Park neighborhoods on the city’s west side.
“What solves this problem is having empathy,” said Force Detroit Founder and CEO Alia Harvey-Quinn. “Recognizing that trauma is the reason behind acts of violence and showing up with care, resources, love, and consistency.”
Force Detroit will receive a performance grant for $175,000 to continue its crime reduction work and strategies.
In June 2023, Detroit announced it partnered with six Community Violence Intervention groups as part of its ShotStopper program, which received funding from the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.
The ShotStopper groups are responsible for helping engage residents and reducing crime across six target zones, which the city described as hot spots for trouble.
The groups included Detroit People’s Community, Detroit 300, New Era Community Connection, Force Detroit, Wayne Metropolitan Community Action Agency, Debby Neighborhood Alliance, Camp Restore, and Detroit Friends and Family.
Alex Jamal works at an auto shop in the Warrendale community. He said the presence of Force Detroit has made a significant difference in that area.
“They are always out here,” Jamal said. “They always be out here. I always see them at the gas station, too. I think they’re doing a very good job around here.”
A second group, Detroit Friends and Family, has earned a $87,500 performance grant to help reduce crime by 48% in and around its zone on the east side.
William Nicholson said, “We come from that community. We are that community. They see us on a daily.”
Members of the Community Violence Intervention organizations said they’re connecting residents with housing, jobs, mental health services, and other resources.
“We’ve been able to be successful because we do strategic planning when it comes to cross-neighborhood coordination,” said a Force Detroit member who identified himself as Zoe.
The city of Detroit said four other groups have helped achieve at least 27% violent crime reduction across the remaining ShotStopper target zones.
Bettison said he’s optimistic funding from the state of Michigan will help the city continue its efforts to partner with Community Violence Intervention organizations to help reduce homicides and non-fatal shootings.