KALAMAZOO (WKZO) — President Obama has released recommendations from his Task Force on 21st Century Policing, which urges police departments to trade in the tanks for the Public Relations experts and do more community policing.
Monday Night, Kalamazoo Chief Jeff Hadley discussed with Commissioners a new model for combating gangs that is part of the President’s plan.
Chief Hadley says the way to wipe out gang violence is to identify the gang leaders and convince them of the error of their ways.
Hadley recently led a delegation from the community to John Jay College in New York to learn about “Group Violence Intervention”.
He says they are seeking funding to pay to train staff in the model.
He says the goal is to give gang leaders a chance to use their leadership skills for more productive pursuits, eliminating the gangs and all the problems they cause. He says if he can find the grant money, he hopes to introduce it this fall.
