Gun Violence Initiative
City Updates
Compassion
Building relationships through dignity and respect
The Gainesville Police Department’s Neighborhood Policing Initiative, launched in 2020, trains officers and neighbors, together in the areas of community problem solving and policing.
GPD will create a violent crimes task force which will include neighbors and business owners.
We understand that engagement and accountability will be an essential underpinning of our strategy to address violent crime. We must work collaboratively with those most impacted by violent crime to build a sense of respect for the law.
Revision
Analyze, improve and revise
We will actively analyze data on calls for service related to homicides, person(s) shot or shots fired - looking for patterns and other key performance indicators.
We must also measure performance by speaking with our neighbors who live in areas most impacted by violence to determine safety sentiment scores. Strategies and tactics will be modified accordingly.
Interruption
Violence as a public health issue
The Gainesville Police Department has launched a Violence Interrupters Program in our community.
This approach view violence as a preventable epidemic, much like an infectious disease where transmission is prevented. This model works to interrupt the violence transmission cycle by identifying those at high risk of perpetrating violence and provides alternative avenues. Through service offerings like conflict resolution and mediation, GPD is working to change social norms around the acceptance of violence in communities.
Suppression
Place-based policing
Violent crime is often concentrated in limited geographical areas and/or by a small group of persons. Many are repeat violent offenders.
Gainesville Police Department will employ strategic use of data from our Crime Analysis Unit to concentrate enforcement activities on the primary drivers of crime in our communities -- identifying, investigating, arresting, and assisting with the prosecution of the perpetrators.
Prevention
Invest in youth and young adults
Providing educational and extracurricular opportunities for those that need access to mentorship, leadership and structure will be critical in our strategic fight against community violence. GPD’s programs including Heatwave, Reichert House Youth Academy and BOLD have proven successful in creating brighter futures for those they serve.
We will double our efforts in encouraging and recruiting youth participation in these and other available alternatives.
Other Immediate Tactics
- Reduce the proliferation of illegal guns – Lock Your Car Campaign
- Minimize the number of illegal guns in circulation – Gun Bounty Program
- Employment and economic opportunity
- Mental health and substance use
Connect with the Gainesville Police Department