COLUMBUS, Ohio — For the third time this summer, Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther held a press conference to address recent violence in the city.
After several recent shootings involving juveniles, the city announced it is forming intervention teams that would provide services to families to help at-risk teens.
The Family Stabilization Unit will help families with whatever they need whether it be a job, transportation or food, to help turn them away from gun violence.
"We know we cannot police our way out of violence," Ginther said Wednesday.
Franklin County Commissioner Kevin Boyce said he sees the program as a pilot program for all the families in central Ohio.
The program will be paid for with $2 million from the CARES Act.
The teams will be part of an expansion of the city's CARE Coalition, which helps out families after something bad happens.
Columbus Police Chief Tom Quinlan said, "I believe we can make a difference, only if we work together."
"If we succeed, lives will be saved," Quinlan said.
It was also announced the city plans to expand the ShotSpotter program, which tracks where gunshots are coming from, but the city did not know how exactly how the expansion will be funded yet.
There have been 84 homicides in Columbus in 2020 as of August 10.
That year-to-date total is more than the 81 for the same time frame in 2017 when there was a record 143 homicides.
The total number of homicides in 2017 was changed to 152 due to the homicide investigations resulting in the charges against Dr. William Husel.
Felonious assaults are also up from the record-setting year by more than 200.
Of the homicides that have occurred since June 1, 22 of them — or 54% — involved a victim under the age of 25
On July 13, Ginther said, "We must hold those responsible for these senseless acts of violence accountable. This is our collective concern. It will take each of us working together to stop the violence."
On June 27, he urged community involvement to help curb the violence
Joining Ginther for Wednesday's remarks were Chief Quinlan, Boyce, NAACP Columbus President Nana Watson, Principal of Columbus Scioto 6-12 and Pastor Charles Tatum of The Good Shephard Baptist Church.
