MIAMI (WSVN) - Miami-Dade County leaders have announced the launch of the Group Violence Intervention in hopes of reducing deaths by gun violence.
The $2 million initiative was introduced on Monday morning by Miami-Dade County Commission Chair Audrey Edmonson and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez at the Stephen P. Clark Center.
“What we’ve been doing so far obviously has not been working. It’s time to jump out of that box,” said Edmonson.
“This won’t work unless the community helps us,” said Gimenez.
The county will attempt to have a stronger approach on curfew. Several billboards have been put up to start spreading the word.
“The curfew is already on the books,” said Edmonson. “It’s already there. What we will do now is enforce it to the best that we can.”
County officials have also pledged a boots-on-the-ground approach in an effort to give young men in high-crime areas positive role models.
“They may not talk to the police, they may not talk to the clergy, they may not talk to the politicians, but they will talk to someone that they know and someone that is living there on the streets with them,” said Edmonson.
The announcement comes after a weekend of shootings in Miami-Dade County.
A shooting took place in Miami’s Little Havana neighborhood that left three victims dead on Saturday. Police have described it as a murder-suicide.
On Sunday, a double shooting took place in Miami Gardens leaving two men in the hospital, while another victim was left dead after a shooting in Opa-Locka.
“The ultimate goal is simple: to reduce crime in Miami-Dade County,” said Edmonson.
Safe houses will also be set up and made available to anyone trying to get out of a gang.
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