TOLEDO, OH (WTOL) - Toledo Police on Tuesday will unveil the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence, aimed at lowering violent crimes rates in the city.
With an estimated 25 gangs and 2,500 active gang members in Toledo, The police are adopting an approach used in Cincinnati and other cities, and that will involve meeting face-to-face with known gang leaders.
"There are different ways to settle grievances. There's a more mature way. Everything doesn't have to be solved with a gun, a knife or a pipe," says TPD Sgt. Joe Heffernan.
The effort also involves pursuing more gang-related charges when violent crimes are committed. The effort includes dozens of community partners joining the cause to boost the community support network to help steer people from a life of crime and violence.
"You have to get out there and do something. You can't sit back and wait and say why is my neighborhood going to crap and I'm not doing anything", says Keith Jordan Sr. with JLJ Vision Outreach.
"If you're a gang member and you want to get out of that life, we're here to support you. We know it's going to be a transition back and we're going to be holding your hand getting there."
Chief Diggs and his new community partners will have more on this effort during a press conference on Tuesday at 10 a.m.
