FORT WORTH, Texas - U.S. Attorney John Parker announced today that Safe City Commission, which provides programing and services as One Safe Place in Fort Worth, Texas, will receive $500,000 in grant funding as part of the federal government’s efforts to create safer neighborhoods through a sustained reduction in gang violence and gun crime.
The grant, announced by Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch, is one of seven half-million dollar grants awarded last week by the Justice Department’s Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Assistance and funded under the 2016 Violent Gang and Gun Crime Reduction/Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Program.
“My office is committed to working side by side with the people who live in the neighborhoods, our partners at One Safe Place, and our partners in law enforcement to stop the destructive cycle of gun and gang violence that terrorizes our communities," said U.S. Attorney John Parker. “This grant funding significantly enhances that effort in Fort Worth by providing additional tools for success."
“As longstanding partners with One Safe Place in the effort to reduce violent crime in Tarrant County, we are extremely pleased the DOJ chose to fund their efforts to reduce gang and gun violence," said Fort Worth Police Chief Joel Fitzgerald. “We are steadfast in our commitment to meaningful partnerships in the community to make Fort Worth the safest large city in America. This grant award will certainly bring us closer to that reality."
“PSN has helped ensure a very effective collaboration between local, federal and community based partners, which has reduced gun and gang violence in Fort Worth," said Ken Shetter, President of One Safe Place. “Funding under the 2016 PSN Program will allow us to take this partnership to the next level, build on the knowledge and best practices that have already been developed, and target resources on hot spots for gun and gang violence. We are particularly excited that the One Safe Place strategy addresses domestic violence as a significant contributor to gun and gang violence in the community."
PSN is a nationwide commitment to reduce gang and gun crime in the U.S. by networking existing local programs that target gun and gang crime and providing these programs with additional tools for success. PSN’s strategic approach brings more “science" into criminal justice operations by leveraging innovative applications of analysis, technology and evidence-based practices to improve performance and effectiveness while containing costs. The Northern District of Texas PSN Task Force, led by U.S. Attorney Parker, uses partnerships, strategic planning, training, outreach and accountability to implement gang violence and gun crime enforcement, intervention and preventions strategies throughout the district.
One Safe Place will use the grant funds to initiate a multidisciplinary intervention in persistent hotspots in Fort Worth, targeting gang and gun violence through increased collaboration with partner agencies, analysis of related violent crimes, and the implementation of a flexible intelligence-led, problem solving approach. Grant funds will also be used to develop a gang and gun violence prevention media campaign.
“Gang violence and gun crime are two of the most formidable obstacles we face in ensuring that every American lives in safe and secure communities," said Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch. “These vital grants give jurisdictions the resources they need to develop comprehensive, collaborative responses to the most serious and destructive crimes. By combining more effective enforcement with closer cooperation, better data and expanded prevention initiatives, Project Safe Neighborhoods helps communities make meaningful strides towards ending violence, promoting peace, and restoring hope."
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
