♪ ♪ >> Renee: WELCOME AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR A SPECIAL PROGRAM, EXAMINING VIOLENT CRIME IN LOUISVILLE, A KET FORUM.

I'M RENEE SHAW.

FOR THE NEXT HOUR, WE ARE JOINED BY CITY OFFICIALS, ACADEMICS, COMMUNITY ACTIVISTS AND OTHERS TO DISCUSS WAYS TO DISRUPT THE CYCLE OF GUN VIOLENCE THAT'S PLAGUING KENTUCKY'S LARGEST CITY.

A NEW CRIME FIGHTING STRATEGY IN LOUISVILLE SHOWS PROMISE IN CURBING COMMUNITY VIOLENCE CITY LEADERS ARE LOOKING AT VIOLENCE AND INTERRUPTERS DIFFERENTLY AND A RECENT WASHINGTON POST SERIES ON REIMAGINING PUBLIC SAFETY MAKES THIS HEADLINING STATEMENT: POLICE REFORM IS NOT ENOUGH.

WE NEED TO RETHINK PUBLIC SAFETY.

THE PIECE GOES TO SAY WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT PUBLIC SAFETY THE WAY WE THINK ABOUT PUBLIC.

HEALTH.

NO ONE WOULD SUGGEST THAT HOSPITALS ALONE CAN KEEP A POPULATION HEALTHY, NO MATTER HOW WELL RUN THEY MIGHT BE.

HEALTH ISN'T JUST ABOUT HOSPITALS.

SAFETY ISN'T JUST ABOUT POLICE.

THE HOMICIDE NUMBERS IN LOUISVILLE POINT TO THE NEED TO REIMAGINE COMMUNITY SAFETY.

SINCE THE START OF THE YEAR UNTIL MAY 19, THERE HAVE BEEN 66 HOMICIDES AND MORE THAN 250 NON-FATAL SHOOTINGS.

LOUISVILLE FACES 15 STRAIGHT MONTHS OF DOUBLE DIGIT NUMBER HOMICIDES.

BUT THE NUMBERS DON'T TELL THE WHOLE STORY.

WITH EACH STATISTIC, THERE IS A GRIEF STRICKEN FAMILY.

AND HERE TO TALK ABOUT WAYS TO SAVE LIVES AND IMPROVE SAFETY FOR EVERYONE IS LOUISVILLE MAYOR GREG FISCHER AND DEPUTY POLICE CHIEF FOR THE LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE DEPARTMENT, JACQUELINE GWINN-VILLAROEL BOTH IN OUR STUDIO.

IN OUR LEXINGTON STUDIO, CHRISTOPHER X 2 X. RUSSELL COLEMAN, FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY AND Dr. KEITH MILLER, UNIVERSITY OF LOUISVILLE TRAUMA SURGEON AND MONIQUE WILLIAMS JOINING US BY SKYPE.

DIRECTOR OF NATIONAL NETWORK FOR SAFE COMMUNITIES AND DAVID KENNEDY.

MY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE ON THIS VERY CRITICAL AND VERY TIMELY DISCUSSION.

MAYOR FISCHER, I JUST WANT TO BEGIN WITH YOU, SIR.

WHEN YOU SEE THESE NUMBERS AND YOU KNOW THEM VERY WELL AND YOU HAVE BEEN IMMERSED IN A COUPLE OF DAYS OF CONFERENCES WITH THE NATIONAL MAYORS CONFERENCE WHERE YOU ARE THE PRESIDENT OVER THIS WHOLE GROUP OF MAYORS AND YOU HAVE DISCUSSED VIOLENCE IN CITIES AND WAYS TO PREVENT AND INTERVENE.

WHEN YOU HEAR THE NUMBERS, CAN YOU GIVE US AN EXPLANATION OF WHY THE STAGGERING SURGE OVER LAST YEAR?

WHAT IS TO BE BLAMED FOR IT?

>> SADLY LOUISVILLE'S STORY IS AMERICA'S STORY RIGHT NOW.

MOST OF AMERICA'S MEADE MEDIUM AND BIG SIZED CITIES HAVE SEEN A SURGE IN GUN VIOLENCE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

THERE ARE A COUPLE OF FACTORS INVOLVED.

JAFT JUNE OR JULY IS WHEN HOMICIDES STARTED TAKING OFF, COINCIDING WITH THE DEMONSTRATIONS THAT WERE TAKING PLACE IN THE COUNTRY WHERE THE POLICE OFFICERS WERE PULLED OFF THEIR NORMAL BEATS TO MANAGE THE DEMONSTRATIONED AND THE PANDEMIC WAS IN FULL FORCE.

THE PANDEMIC SHUT DOWN A LOT OF INSTITUTIONS WHERE PEOPLE OFTEN RECEIVED PARENTAL ADVICE OR SOME TYPE OF ADVICE FROM MENTORS AND YOU SEE A LOT OF THE BEEFS NOW GOING OUT INTO THE STREETS AND PEOPLE JUST USING GUNS.

THAT'S THE OTHER THUNK, OUR CITIES AND COUNTRY IS JUST AWASH IN GUNS.

THEY ARE EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW.

SO BACK IN THE DAY, YOU WOULD HAVE A FIGHT.

NOW SOMEBODY JUST PULLS OUT A GUN AND WASTES SOMEBODY AND LIVES ARE CHANGED TRAGICALLY FOREVER.

THAT, ALSO WITH THE NOTION THAT THIS IS JUST A POLICE PROBLEM.

THAT IS A SIMPLISTIC NOTION THAT POLICE ARE JUST ONE █ASPECTOF CRIME REDUCTION.

WE EXPECT POLICE TO DO EVERYTHING FROM ENFORCING THE LAW TO BEING HOMELESS SPECIALIST, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE COORDINATORS.

SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT A WHOLE OF CITY GOVERNMENT OR A WHOLE COMMUNITY APPROACH, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SMART INVESTMENTS IN PREVENTION SO YOUNG PEOPLE DON'T GO DOWN A LIFE OF CRIME, INTERVENTION SO IF THEY ARE INVOLVED, THERE IS A WAY TO INTERRUPT THAT AND CONSTITUTIONAL AND EQUITABLE AND COMPASSIONATE ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAW IS ONE.

BUT WHAT ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITIES DO WE DEVELOP TO FIGHT CRIME HOLISTICALLY BETTER AND LAST IS REENTRY SO WHEN SOMEBODY GETS OUT OF JAIL OR PRISON THERE IS HOUSING AND A JOB SO THEY CAN INTEGRATE IN A PRODUCTIVE AND PEACEFUL WAY.

>> Renee: I WANT TO TURN TO DEPUTY CHIEF GWINN-VILLAROEL.

YOU JUST HEARD MAYOR FISCHER TALK ABOUT THIS IS NOT JUST A LAW ENFORCEMENT PROBLEM I'M SURE YOU WILL AGREE.

EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE BEEN IN LOUISVILLE A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME, YOU HAIL FROM AN AREA THAT HAS DEALT WITH THIS ISSUE VERY INTIMATELY.

TALK TO US ABOUT WHAT LMPD IS DOING OR CAN DO BETTER TO HELP CURB THE VIOLENT CRIME IN LOUISVILLE.

>> THANK YOU RENEE FOR HAVING ME HERE AND YES, THE LMPD IS ABLE TO DO AND TO DO BETTER IS TRULY EMBRACE THE HOLISTIC APPROACH TO POLICING BETTER AND MOVE FORWARD WITH THE IDEA THAT, YES, POLICE CANNOT DO IT ALONE.

NOR SHOULD WE WANT TO DO IT AENLO.

AND WE NEED THE COMMUNICATE.

WE NEED OUR PARTNERS TO COME WITH US AND TO PARTNER TOGETHER TO FIGHT CRIME AND TO ACTUALLY WORK WITH THE COMMUNITY AND TO IMPACT CRIME IN SUCH A MANNER THAT WE ALL ARE AT THE TABLE TOGETHER, ACTUALLY WORKING AND BRAIN STORMING HOW CAN WE DO THIS TOGETHER AND TO BE ON THE SAME PAGE?

THERE IS NO TIME FOR SILOS.

WE CANNOT WORK IN SILOS ANY LONGER BECAUSE WE ARE SEEING OUR YOUNG MEN DYING IN ALARGE CAPPING RATE AND WE-- IN AN ALARMING RATE.

WE MUST STOP THE BLOODSHED THAT IS TAKE IS PLACE IN OUR STREETS ON A DAILY BASIS AND THEREFORE WE SUPPORT OUR SOCIAL SERVICES COMING ON BOARD.

WE SUPPORT THE DEFLECTION MODEL THAT IS COMING ON BOARD WITHIN LOUISVILLE.

WE SUPPORT THOSE, ALL THESE ENTITIES THAT ARE MAKING UP THIS APPROACH TO WHERE WE CAN COME TOGETHER AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

WE ARE-- WE ARE THERE.

GVI IS SO CRITICAL IN ORDER FOR US TO MOVE INTO A SPACE THAT WE HAVE NOT BEEN BEFORE AND LOUISVILLE IS IN THE FOREFRONT OF THAT.

HOW GREAT IS THAT?

AND THAT WE CAN ACTUALLY BE A PART OF SOMETHING THAT WE CAN SEE A DIFFERENCE.

AND, YES, WE ARE EMBRACING THAT.

WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT THAT BECAUSE IT IS CRITICAL AT A TIME WHERE WE MUST STOP THIS VIOLENCE.

AND SO EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO, WE ARE GOING TO EMBRACE IT AND WE ARE GOING TO MAKE SURE WE GIVE IT AN OPPORTUNITY FOR IT TO BE A SUCCESS AND SO, YES, LMPD IS ON BOARD AND WE ARE SUPPORTING THAT BECAUSE WE MUST TURN THE CORNER IN MAKING SURE THAT WE GET THESE GUNS OFF THE STREET.

BUT ALSO, TOO, TAKE AN OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE AND HELP CHANGE THE LIVES OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT THE OPPORTUNITY TO CHANGE AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT TRULY WANT TO STOP DOING THAT CRIME, WE NEED TO ACTUALLY HELP THEM TO STOP DOING IT.

>> Renee: I APPRECIATE THAT OF THAT EXPLANATION AND YOU MADE A POINT TALKING ABOUT GVI, GROUP VIOLENCE INTERVENTION EFFORT AND WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT THAT QUITE A BIT TONIGHT THAT MAY BE AN UNFAMILIAR TERM FOR MANY AND GETTING AT THE HEART OF PREVENTION IS KEY THERE.

AND I WANT TO TURN NOW TO CHRISTOPHER 2 X BECAUSE YOU KNOW THIS ISSUE VERY WELL INTIMATELY.

YOU ONCE WERE AS A YOUNG TEEN, ON THE WRONG SIDE OF THE LAW YOURSELF AND HAVE COMMITTED IN THE DECADES SINCE, TO HELP OTHERS WHO ARE VICTIMS AND SURVIVORS OF GUN VIOLENCE WITH EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS AND MENTORING, ALL THAT WE TALKED ABOUT A MOMENT AGO.

TELL US, IF YOU CAN, GIVE US JUST A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THIS GVI APPROACH AND HOW YOU SEE ACTIVISTS LIKE YOURSELF MOLDING INTO THAT EFFORT?

>> WELL, FOR ME, MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHERE I THINK GVI CAN BENEFIT IS EMBRACING SURVIVORS TO BE A PART OF SOMETHING THAT IS STRUCTURED, WHERE THEY CAN MAKE AN IMPACT IN REGARDS TO CALL INS AND BE THE VOICES, TO TALK ABOUT THE DEVASTATING LOSS OF AN INDIVIDUAL AND HOW THEY'RE TRYING TO MUSTER UP THE ENERGY TO SAVE ANOTHER LIFE THAT MIGHT BE CAUGHT UP IN THIS LIFE AND THIS PATTERN.

>> Renee: FOR THOSE WHO ARE OUTSIDE OF THE LOUISVILLE AREA AND DON'T KNOW OR THEY'RE CURIOUS WHERE THIS VIOLENCE IS HAPPENING.

TELL US GEOGRAPHICALLY WHERE IT IS HAPPENING?

>> I MEAN, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE DEVASTATION ON FATALS AND NON-FATALS IT'S NO SECRET UP TO 70%, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE TO BE TOTALLY ACCURATE BUT PROBABLY 70% OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE IMPACTED ARE AFRICAN-AMERICANS AND ESPECIALLY YOUNG BLACK MALES, OR YOUNG ADULT BLACK MALES.

AND I WANT TO QUICKLY SAY THAT THAT IS NOT THE WHOLE STORY.

ONE THING WE'VE REALLY GOT TO KEEP OUR EYES ON AND I THINK WE ARE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALL ON THIS, IS THAT THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE IN REGARDS TO CHILDREN AS YOUNG AS EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT AGES, WHO DON'T GET DIRECTLY HIT BY BULLETS AND EVEN IN RARE OCCASIONS HIT BY A STRAY BULLET.

THEY'RE IMPACTED BY THE TRAUMA OF GUN PLAY CONSTANTLY AND YOU CAN SEE IT PLAYING OUT IN DAYCARES THESE DAYS AND THAT'S FACTUAL.

>> I WANT TO PICK UP ON THAT POINT, TALKING ABOUT THE HOMICIDES AND TRUE ENOUGH, THAT'S WORTHY OF OUR ATTENTION TO DISCUSS SOLELY FOR AN HOUR, BUT THE NON-FATAL NUMBERS, MORE THAN 250 AND WE ARE JUST FOUR MONTHS AND 19 DAYS AT THE TIME OF THIS RECORDING IN.

HOW START STARTLING THAT TO YOU AND WHAT DO YOU SEE AS A TRAUMA SURGEON OF THE IMPACTS THE NON-FATAL INCIDENTS CAN HAVE ON CHILDREN AND FAMILIES?

>> IT IS SUPER IMPORTANT, AS CHRIS SAID, TO REMEMBER THAT.

FOR EVERY FATALITY, WHICH IS CATASTROPHIC, THERE ARE FOUR NON-FATAL INJURIES AND THAT'S, THAT CAN MEAN A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS.

THAT CAN MEAN YOU HAVE A SPINAL CHORD INJURY AND YOU NEVER WALK AGAIN.

THAT CAN MEAN YOU HAVE A TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND YOU ARE NEVER THE PERSON YOU WERE BEFORE THE INJURIES.

SO, ONE OF MY LEAST FAVORITE SORT OF MEDIA TERMS THAT THE WE GET THROWN AROUND IS NON-LIFE THREATENING INJURIES.

AND I ABHOR THAT TERM BECAUSE SOME OF THE INJURIES ARE A CONSTANT THREAT TO LIFE FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES.

WHETHER THAT'S ANOTHER WEEK OR 25 YEARS.

I DON'T THINK NON-FATAL INJURIES GET ENOUGH ATTENTION.

IT'S A 4-IS RATIO.

-- 4-1 RATIO.

>> Renee: I WANT US TO PAUSE TO PUT A FACE TO THE NUMBERS WE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT BECAUSE IT IS EASY TO GET CAUGHT UP IN REPEATING STATISTICS.

THAT WE HAVE TO HUMANIZE THE FACT THAT THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE WHO LIVE REAL LIVES WHO WANT THE KIND OF LIFE THAT ALL OF US HAVE AND SO WE WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU NOW TO A FAMILY IN LOUISVILLE IN THE WEST END, THE GWENS WHO LOST THEIR 19-YEAR-OLD SON CHRISTIAN TWO DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN 2019.

>> CHRIS WAS AN IMPECCABLE CHILD.

I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW I GOT HIM AND TO LOSE MY SON TO SUCH A HORRENDOUS THING, I WISH HE WAS HERE.

>> CHRISTIAN WAS 19 YEARS OLD WHEN SHE WAS SHOT AND KILLED ON THE CORNER OF MARKET AND 43rd STREET DAYS BEFORE CHRISTMAS IN 2019.

HIS FAMILY DESCRIBED A PERSON WITH A LOVE FOR BASKETBALL.

THE OUTDOORS, HIS FAMILY AND MUSIC.

HE DROAPED OF LIVING IN ALASKA, BEING SO SUCCESSFUL THAT HIS FAMILY WOULDN'T HAVE TO WANT OR WORRY.

>> WE GOT THE CALL A LITTLE AFTER 9:00.

MY SON WAS DEAD BY 9:0 7, STREETS FROM MY HOME.

>> THOSE DREAMS DISAPPEARED WITH A BULLET.

>> ALL CHILDREN ARE NOT PERFECTED BUT MY SON DID NOTHING THAT NIGHT FOR THE CAR TO DRIVE BY AND ROLL DOWN THEIR WINDOWS AND TAKE HIS LIFE.

HE WAS ON HIS WAY HOME.

HE WAS 19.

HE HAD A 10:00 CURFEW.

WHAT 19-YEAR-OLD CHILD DO YOU KNOW RESPECTED A 10:00 CURFEW?

>> CHRISTIAN WAS SHOT WALKING HOME FROM A RESTAURANT LESS THAN A MILE FROM THEIR HOUSE.

>> I SIT IN MY DRIVEWAY AND FROM THIS AREA TO THE BACK OF THE WATER, IT'S LIKE A MEGAPHONE.

I CAN HEAR THE AKs GOING OFF HERE, THE NINE MILLIMETERS, THE 38s IN ANY DIRECTION.

>> LAST MONTH, LOUISVILLE METRO POLICE MADE AN ARREST AND FILED MURDER CHARGES ON A SUSPECT IN CHRISTIAN'S DEATH.

THAT BROUGHT SOME ANSWERS BUT HASN'T CHANGED THE DAILY CHALLENGES FOR NEVADA AND KRISTA GWEN IN THE WEST END OF LOUISVILLE.

>> IF YOU LOOK AROUND THE HOUSE, I HAVE EVERYTHING SETTING TO WHERE MY KIDS HAVE PLACES TO HIDE IF ANYTHING-- I DON'T PUT MY COUCH IN FRONT OF MY WOIN WINDOW.

NOBODY SLEEPS IN THE WINDOW HERE.

MY DAUGHTER'S ROOM, SHE SLEEPS BEHIND THE MOST BIGGEST WALL IN HER ROOM FROM THAT, YOU KNOW, WITH HER BED IN THERE AND I'M AFRAID TO MOVE IT, LIKE ANY OTHER WAY, AND THAT'S JUST-- IT MAY BE JUST ME.

PUTTING THIS, PROJECTING ON THIS MY KIDS, BUT I'M JUST TRYING TO BE-- I DON'T LET THEM SEE IT BUT I'M TRYING TO BE MORE SAFE THAN SORRY.

>> IT'S WHAT SOCIETY HAS NOW MADE US DO.

>> THE GWENS SAY THEIR 13-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER WON'T WALK TO THE PARK OUT OF FEAR OF THE GUN VIOLENCE IN THERE I COMMUNITY.

THEY SAY THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS ARE NOT WELL LIT AND WISH THERE WAS GREATER POLICE PRESENCE MY 13 AND 1-YEAR-OLD SHOULD BE ENJOYING LIFE AND AT THIS POINT THEY'RE NOT.

>> FOR THEIR FAMILY, BEING SURROUNDED BY GUN VIOLENCE BRINGS INESCAPABLE FEAR IN A ROUTINE WHEN IT SEEMS TOO CLOSE TO HOME.

>> WE HAVE A SYSTEM.

IF THE GUNSHOTS SOUND TOO CLOSE, MY KIDS KNOW WHAT TO DO.

WHEN THEY HEAR ONE POP.

THEY STOP.

AND THEY TRY TO FIGURE OUT WHICH WAY COULD THAT BE COMING FROM.

AND THAT'S A SHAME THAT MY 13-YEAR-OLD IS LISTENING FOR GUNSHOTS.

SHE SHOULD NOT BE THINKING OF THAT.

MY 19-YEAR-OLD AND MY 24-YEAR-OLD SHOULD NOT BE TRYING TO RUN AND GET THEIR LITTLE SISTER TO GET TO SAFETY.

IT'S SAD THAT WHEN WE HEAR SOMETHING, MY KIDS DON'T AUTOMATICALLY THINK IT'S FIREWORKS.

THEY KNOW IT'S GUNS SHOOTING.

>> THE GWENS ARE USING THEIR EXPERIENCE TO HELP OTHERS.

THEY HAVE BEEN VOCAL ABOUT THE NEED FOR CHANGES IN LOUISVILLE TO ADDRESS THE CITY'S RISING PANDEMIC OF VIOLENT CRIME.

THEY HAVE HELD DONATION DRIVES, PROVIDED FOOD AND LEAVE THEIR DOOR OPEN FOR OTHERS TO TALK ABOUT LOVED ONES LOST TO GUN VIOLENCE.

>> THE MOST I'VE WALKED THIS BLOCK SINCE WE'VE BEEN HERE.

>> FOR THOSE WITH THE POWER TO HELP MAKE CHANGES, THEY HAVE ONE REQUEST.

>> THE WEST END NEEDS COMMUNICATION.

THEY NEED SOMETHING FOR THE CHILDREN TO DO.

THERE IS NOTHING FOR THE CHILDREN DOWN THIS END FOR THEM TO DO.

I UNDERSTAND FUNDING IS LIMITED BUT YOU NEED TO SIT DOWN AND REALIZE IF I DON'T FIX THIS, IT'S GOING TO GET WORSE.

I UNDERSTAND SOME STATUES NEED TO BE FIXED AND THIS BUILDING NEEDS TO BE REDONE, BUT THESE KIDS ARE KILLING EACH OTHER AND RIGHT NOW THAT SHOULD BE PRECEDENT.

>> FOR KET, I'M CASEY PARKER-BELL.

>> Renee: I WANT TO GO RIGHT NOW TO MONIQUE WILLIAMS, DIRECTOR FOR OFFICE OF SAFE AND HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS.

I WANT TO ASK YOU AND MAYBE MAYOR FISCHER CAN CHIME IN ON THIS.

WHEN YOU HEAR MISS GWEN SAY THAT MORE HAS TO BE DONE AND THE FACT THEY WISH THEY HAD MORE POLICE PRESENCE, THEIR CHILD CAN'T GO OUT AFTER DARK BECAUSE IT'S NOT SAFE TO GO TO THE PARK.

THEY ARE MAKING CHOICES ABOUT HOW THEY LIVE DAILY FROM WHERE THEY GET UP IN THE MORNING TO WHEN THEY GO TO BED AT NIGHT, HOW THEY POSITION THE BEDS.

TALK ABOUT LIFE ALTERING LIFESTYLE HERE WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN YOUR OFFICE TO HELP FAMILIES LIKE THIS OR MAKING SUCH CHANGES IN THEIR LIVES TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEIR LOVED ONES?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND UNFORTUNATELY THERE ARE, YOU KNOW, MULTIPLE FAMILIES IN THIS PREDICAMENT, AND THIS OFFICE WAS CREATED BACK IN 2012 TO ADDRESS SOME OF WHAT, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS JUST DISCUSSING.

IT WAS CREATED BY COMMUNITY FROM COMMUNITY VOICE AS A RESPONSE TO A TRIPLE HOMICIDE THAT HAPPENED IN 2012.

AND SO WE REALLY SEEK TO WORK IN AND WITH COMMUNITIES TO DEVELOP STRATEGIES FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION THAT ARE COMPREHENSIVE IN NATURE AND THAT HAVE EVIDENCE BASE TO THEM SO RIGHT NOW WE ARE WORKING ON A COUPLE OF STRATEGIES.

YOU HEARD Dr. MILLER SPEAK ABOUT THE HOSPITAL BASED VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ONE OF THE COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS, PIVOT TO PEACE.

AND WE WORK WITH VICTIMS OF GUN VIOLENCE THERE WORKING DIRECTLY WITH AT RISK INDIVIDUALS AND WORKING TO BUILD OUT A MORE ROBUST SYSTEM TO ENGAGE MORE HIGH RISK INDIVIDUALS.

SO DEPLOY, AS YOU MENTIONED EARLIER VIOLENCE INTERVENTION IS MOSTLY KNOWN AS INTERRUPTERS WHO CAN DEVELOP RAPPORT AND EDGE GAUGE WITH THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK OF VIOLENCE TO GET THEM TO ALTER THEIR MIND SET AND DEAL WITH HOW THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT ENGAGING IN VIOLENCE AND ANOTHER STRATEGY WE ARE LOOKING AT IS COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION.

THE COMMUNITY CAN TELL YOU BETTER THAN YOU CAN TELL THEM WHAT THEY NEED.

SO THEY HAVE TO BE PART 6 CONVERSATIONS AROUND WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY NEEDS TO BE FOR THEM AND SO CREATING MECHANISMS AND VENUES FOR COMMUNITIES TO BE ENGAGED IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF HOLISTIC STRATEGIES FOR VIOLENCE PREVENTION, YOU KNOW, THEY MENTION THINGS LIKE IT'S NOT WELL LIT WE KNOW FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, THAT THERE ARE MULTIPLE LEVELS OF INFLUENCE WHERE WE ARE TALKING ABOUT VIOLENCE.

IT'S NOT JUST THE INDIVIDUAL BEHAVIOR BUT MULTIPLE FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE THE INDIVIDUAL'S BEHAVIOR, EVEN THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT, WHERE THERE IS HIGH NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSIENCY, HIGH POVERTY, WHERE THERE ARE, YOU KNOW LOTS OF VACANT AND ABANDONS AND UNKEPT PROPERTIES.

WE KNOW VIOLENCE IS MORE LIKELY IN THOSE AREAS.

SO WE HAVE THIS CONCENTRATED AREA THAT HAS THE SOCIAL CONDITIONS THAT MAKE VIOLENCE MORE LIKELY, SO WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THOSE KINDS OF THINGS BY BUILDING OUT STRATEGY WITH COMMUNITY TO ADDRESS THOSE THINGS AND DEALING WITH THOSE WHO ARE TERROR AT A PLACE OF NEEDING AN INTERVENTION AND SO LIKE MAYOR FISCHER SAID WE HAVE TO DEPLOY STRATEGIES THAT ARE PREVENTION ORIENTED, THAT ARE INTERVENTION ORIENTED, THAT HAVE AN EYE ON ORGANIZATIONAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL CHANGE BECAUSE THERE ARE POLICIES IN PLACE THAT HAVE HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE CREATED THESE CONDITIONS.

AND SO WE HAVE TO ADDRESS ALL OF THIS ACROSS THE GAMUT, AND SO OUR OFFICE IS REALLY WORKING TO DEVELOP AND DEPLOY THOSE STRATEGIES THAT ARE ENCOMPASSING ALL OF THE MULTIPLE RISK FACTORS THAT COULD BE A PART OF CREATING THE SPACE FOR THE VIOLENCE TO HAPPEN.

>> Renee: YOU ARE A FORMER U.S. ATTORNEY, RUSSELL COLEMAN, AND YOU HAVE BEEN TO THE KET STUDIO MANY TIMES AND TALKED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND OTHERS.

I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE GROUP VIOLENCE INTERINTERVENTION EFFORT AND THIS IS SOMETHING YOU LATCHED ON TO EARLY ON HOW THIS CAN BE A GAME CHANGER WHEN IT COMES TO CURBING VIOLENT CRIME IN LOUISVILLE.

FIRST OF ALL, ANSWER WHAT IS LOUISVILLE BEEN DOING WRONG FOR SO MANY YEARS AND WHY?

AND DO YOU THINK THAT THIS APPROACH WILL HAVE LONG LASTING RESULTS?

>> IF THERE IS A TAKE AWAY FROM ANYTHING I SAY IN OUR TIME TOGETHER, WE KNOW HOW TO REDUCE VIOLENT CRIME IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE KNOW HOW TO SAVE LIVES AND REDUCE VIOLENT CRIME.

WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT GVI GROUP, VIOLENCE INTRETION, HAVE YOU THE NAH I GOES' EXPERT ON GROUP VIOLENCE AND INTERVENTION TO SPEAK TO US IN A MOMENT WHO IS RAPIDLY BECOMING ONE OF MY HEROES.

WE KNOW HOW TO REDUCE INTERSTATE CRIME BECAUSE IT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED IN CITIES FOR 20 YEARS.

WHETHER WE TALK ABOUT DOING SOMETHING DIFFERENTLY IN LOUISVILLE, THIS IS NOT A PILOT PROJECT, THIS IS NOT AN EXPERIMENT.

THIS WORKS.

THIS WORKS IN SAVING LIVES.

AND IT'S ONE THING TO TALK ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME IN AN ANTISEPTIC TERM IN A SAFE STUDIO LIKE THIS.

VIOLENT CRIME IS CHRISTIAN GWEN IN LOUISVILLE.

VIOLENT CRIME ARE PEOPLE IN OUR COMMONWEALTH WHO SLEEP BEHIND COVER AND CONCEALMENT AT NIGHT.

VIOLENT CRIME ARE LITTLE GIRLS IN LOUISVILLE, THREE YEAR OLDS IN THEIR DISNEY COFFINS LIKE TRINITY RANDOLPH SO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT VIOLENT CRIME, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT LITTLE GIRLS AND LITTLE BOYS BOYS AND MOMS AND DADS AND WE KNEE HOW TO REDUCE THE NUMBERS.

WE ARE NOT ELIMINATING ALL CRIME.

WE ARE NOT ELIMINATING ALL VIOLENT CRIME BUT WE KNOW AS YOU WILL HEAR FROM DAVID KENNEDY, WE KNOW IF DONE RIGHT, WE ARE GOING TO REDUCE SIGNIFICANTLY THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES THAT HAVE AN EMPTY SEAT AT THAT KITCHEN TABLE.

AND IT'S AN ALL OF THE ABOVE APPROACH.

MAYOR FISCHER AND Dr. WILLIAMS TALKED ABOUT MULTIPLE INTERSECTIONS.

I THINK THE PUSH BACK THAT WE HEAR FROM TIME TO TIME IN LOUISVILLE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GVI IS THAT GVI DOESN'T DO ENOUGH TO ADDRESS POLICE REFORM OR ADDRESS EQUITY OR HEALTH OUTCOMES OR MENTAL HEALTH OR ADDICTION.

AND IT'S NOT DESIGNED TO CARRY ALL THOSE THINGS.

VI IS DESIGNED TO BE THE DOCTOR, MY GOOD FRIEND KEITH HERE, Dr. MILLER, IT IS DESIGNED TO BE THE EMERGENCY ROOM.

IT'S DESIGNED TO STOP THE BLEEDING.

ALL OF THOSE INTERVENTIONS, SO MANY OF THEM ARE NEEDED BY OUR NEIGHBORS IN LOUISVILLE BUT IN ORDER TO GET TO HEALTH OUTCOMES IN ORDER TO GET TO ADDICTION TREATMENT, YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WALK OUT ON YOUR FRONT PORCH.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO SLEEP IN A PLACE THAT'S NOT A BATH TUB.

>> Renee: DOESN'T REPLACE THE STRATEGIES, JUST COINCIDES WITH THEM AND IN TANDEM.

>> IT STOPS THE BLEEDING TO TACKLE VIOLENT CRIME, REDUCE THE NUMBERS TO DO THE OTHER INTERVENTIONS AND WE ARE GOING TO HEAR AT A MORIAN LAR LEVEL FROM THE GENTLEMAN THAT DEVELOPED THIS MODEL AND CAN TALK TO YOU ABOUT HOW THIS HAS WORKED IN CITIES LARGE AND CITIES SMALL TO SAVE LIVES.

>> Renee: ABOUT OF WE HEAR FROM PROFESSOR KENNEDY, FOR THOSE OUTSIDE OF LOUISVILLE THINKING I DON'T KNOW WHY I SHOULD CARE ABOUT THIS PROGRAM, WHY DOES THE REST OF KENTUCKY HAVE A VESTED INTEREST IN HOW LOUISVILLE TACKLES AND CONTROLS VIOLENT CRIME?

>> AS MUCH AS EVERY PERSON IN THE COMMONWEALTH SHOULD CARE IN THE LARGEST CITY IN YOUR COMMONWEALTH, THERE ARE THREE-YEAR-OLD GIRLS BURIED IN DISNEY COFFINS SHOT-- AND I STOOD WITH CHRISTOPHER 2X AND THEIR MOM OR 19 YEAR OLDS LIKE CHRISTIAN WHO CAN'T WALK DOWN STREET AFTER GRABBING A BITE TO EAT OR 7 YEAR OLDS WHO CAN'T SIT AT HIS KITCHEN TABLE ON A SATURDAY NIGHT AND PLAY ON HIS TABLET 678 AS MUCH AS THAT SHOULD CONVICT PEOPLE FROM BELL COUNTY TO BALLARD COUNTY, LET ME SPEAK TO YOU AND LOOK DIRECTLY AT THAT CAMERA AND TALK TO FOLKS IN BOWLING GREEN OR PADUCAH, FOLKS IN MAYSVILLE.

AS THE UNITED STATES ATTORNEY, I SPENT TIME IN 53 COUNTIES IN THE WESTERN DISTRICT AND I TALKED TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AND I TALKED ABOUT HOW MY NUMBER ONE PRIORITY DIDN'T TAKE A ROCKET SCIENTIST TO KNOW WHAT IT SHOULD BE.

IT WAS TACK LICK VIOLENT CRIME IN LOUISVILLE.

THIS YEAR IS NOT AN ANOMALY.

LAST YEAR WAS THE MOST VIOLENT YEAR IN THE HISTORY OF LOUISVILLE FROM 2014-2016, WE HAD 110% INCREASE IN HOMICIDES.

WE ARE TRENDING IN THE WRONG DIRECTION.

BUT I SPENT TIME IN THESE RURAL COUNTIES AND TALKED ABOUT HOW WE HOPED TO WORK WITH OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTNERS, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND BE RELEVANT TO BRING THE NUMBERS DOWN AND I EXPECTED PUSHBACK.

HERE IS SOMEONE FROM LOUISVILLE TALKING ABOUT PRIORITIZING LOUISVILLE.

WHY DO WE CARE IN FILL IN THE BLANK COUNTY?

AND THE RESPONSE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS WAS QUITE LITERALLY AT TIMES APPLAUSE.

I WAS SHOCKED.

APPLAUSE FROM TOMMY LOVING, DRUG TASK FORCE COMMANDER IN WARREN COUNTY.

WHY DO THEY RESPOND SO ROBUSTLY IN BECAUSE IF YOU ARE SITTING OUTSIDE OF LOUISVILLE, PARTICULARLY IN THE WEST AND SOUTHERN COUNTIES, SO MUCH OF THE DOPE, SO MUCH OF THE FENTANYL, SO MUCH OF THE POISON THAT IS GOING INTO THE VEINS OF YOUR KIDS, SO MUCH OF THE VIOLENCE IS LINKED TO LOUISVILLE.

LOUISVILLE IS AN EXPORTER OF WONDERFUL THINGS AS MAYOR FISCHER TALKSES ABOUT BOURBON AND THE INCREDIBLE THINGS WE EXPORT TO THE REST OF THE UNITED STATES AND GLOBALLY BUT IN WESTERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTH CENTRAL KENTUCKY AND LESSER DEGREE THE MOUNTAINS, LOUISVILLE IS THE NET EXPORTER OF VIOLENCE AND LOUISVILLE IS THE NET EXPORTER OF NARCOTICS.

WE ARE OUR BROTHER'S KEEPER.

THERE IS NO WALL AROUND JEFFERSON COUNTY.

SO GOES WEST LOUISVILLE, SO GOES DOWN DOWNTOWN, OUR ENTIRE CITY AND COMMONWEALTH.

>> Renee: PROFESSOR KENNEDY, I WANT TO YOU PICK UP THERE AND I WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU AS THE ARC ARCHITECT OF THIS GROUP VIOLENCE INTERVENTION STRATEGY AND MANY PEOPLE MAY HAVE HEARD OF THE BOSTON MIRACLE WHERE THIS GENESIS OF THIS IDEA AND THERE WAS SOME TURN AROUND IN BOSTON, MAYBE PERHAPS MANY DECADES LATER, THERE WAS A RESURGE EBBS BUT I WANT YOU TO DEFINE WHAT GROUP VIOLENCE INTERVENTION MEANS, WHO IT INVOLVES AND HOW IT CAN REALLY MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.

>> RENEE, I WILL ANSWER THAT QUESTION BUT I CAN'T BRING MYSELF TO ANSWER IT RIGHT THIS MINUTE I HAVE TO SAY OUT LOUD AT THAT TIME WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS THE WAY WE SO OFTEN TALK ABOUT THIS.

VIOLENCE IS UP.

IT'S A CRISIS.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

AS MY FRIEND RUSSELL JUST SAID, THIS WAS BAD BEFORE THE PANDEMIC.

IT WAS IS BAD BEFORE THE PROTESTS.

IT'S BEEN BAD FOR DECADES.

IT HAS BEEN BAD FOR GENERATIONS BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY IN CONCENTRATED NEIGHBORHOODS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, HAVE BEEN DYING AT MANY, MANY, MANY MULTIPLES OF WHITE FOLKS FOREVER.

IT HAS TORN THEIR COMMUNITIES APART, IT HAS DEVASTATED FAMILIES LIKE THE GRIN GWENS.

THERE ARE DEAD CHRISTIAN GWENS THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM THAT WHITE FOLKS CAN'T IMAGINE HOW BAD THIS IS I SIT WITH BLACK PASTORS WHILE THEY DRIVE ME AROUND THEIR TOWNS AND THEY CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER THE NAMES OF ALL OF THEIR DEAD.

NOBODY IN Dr. MILLER'S WORLD HAS CONVERSATIONS LIKE THIS.

NOBODY IN Dr. MILLER'S WORLD LOOKS AT THEIR CANCER TOLL AND SAYS OUR NUMBERS ARE UP THIS YEAR WE SHOULD CARE ABOUT CANCER.

THEY CARE ABOUT CANCER EVERY ING -- EVERY SINGLE DAY AND EVERY SINGLE YEAR AND THEY NEVER THINK THEY'RE DOING WELL ENOUGH AND THEY NEVER STOP AND THEY WILL PICK UP A NEW THERAPY OR A NEW APPROACH AND THROW AWAY EVERYTHING THEY'VE EVER DONE THE MOMENT THAT NEW THING COMES ALONG BECAUSE THEY CARE ABOUT HUMAN LIFE THEY CARE ABOUT OUTCOMES AND THIS WORLD THAT WE ARE IN, WHICH IS PRIMARY WILL I A WORLD WHERE WHITE PEOPLE MAKE THESE CHOICES, HAVE NOT CARED ABOUT DEAD BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE EVER IN THE WAY THAT THEY OUGHT TO, AND I DO A LOT OF WORK AROUND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND I DON'T SIT IN ROOMS FULL OF WOMEN AND LOOK AT THEM AND SAY WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT YOUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROBLEM?

MEN ARE THE DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROBLEM.

WHITE FOLKS CREATED THE CONDITIONS IN THESE COMMUNITIES THAT LEAD TO THE DEATH OF ALL THE CHRISTIAN GWENS AND ALL THE GRIEF OF HIS PARENTS AND WE SHOULD CARE ABOUT THIS BECAUSE THIS IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AND THE NEXT TIME YOU ASK ME HOW VI WORKS, I WILL TELL YOU, BUT THIS IS NOT OKAY.

>> Renee: SO CAN YOU NOW GO INTO, SIR, AND I APPRECIATE YOUR SHARING THAT COMMENTARY BECAUSE YOU KNOW, WE OFTEN HEAR AND RESEARCH POINTS, YOU KNOW, VIOLENCE ISN'T-- ISN'T ALWAYS RANDOM; THAT I THINK YOU HAVE EVEN DESCRIBED IT AS HOMICIDE IS SOCIAL.

THAT PEOPLE OFTEN KNOW THE PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE VICTIMIZING SO IN THE CONTEXT OF TALKING ABOUT WHAT GVI IS, HOW DO YOU GET AT THE FACT THAT IT MAY NOT ALWAYS BE GANG RELATED.

IT COULD BE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE EXERCISING THIS VIOLENCE ON SOMEONE ELSE?

>> YEAH, WELL IT TURNS OUT MOSTLY IT ISN'T ABOUT INDIVIDUALS, WHICH IS WHY THE GROUP VIOLENCE INTERSECTION TALKING ABOUT COMING OUT OF BOSTON, 30 YEARS AGO NOW OPERATION CEASE FIRE IS CALL THE GROUP VIOLENCE INTERVENTION.

WE HAVE ALSO BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS TODAY AS A PROBLEM IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

IT IS NOT A PROBLEM IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY IN TERMS OF THE COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN VIOLENCE.

THE COMMUNITY SUFFERS GRIEVOUSLY AS THE GWENS HAVE ARTICULATED.

VERY, VERY FEW PEOPLE IN WHAT OUTSIDERS THINK OF AS DANGEROUS COMMUNITIES, ARE, IN FACT, DANGEROUS.

THE COMMUNITY IS NOT DANGEROUS.

THE COMMUNITY HAS VERY SMALL NUMBERS OF VERY ACTIVE GROUPS OF MOSTLY YOUNG AND YOUNG ADULT MEN, WHO ARE AT FANTASTICALLY HIGH RISK.

THEY MOSTLY HURT EACH OTHER.

THEY DIE AT HUNDREDS OF TIMES THE RATES OF EVEN OTHER PEOPLE IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITY.

AND THE FACT THAT THIS IS A GROUP DYNAMIC CHANGES WHAT HAPPENS.

RUSSELL WAS IN THE BUSINESS OF LOCKING UP PEOPLE ON GUN CHARGES AND RUSSELL IS A GOOD U.S. ATTORNEY AND HIS OFFICE LOCKED UP LOTS OF PEOPLE ON GUN CHARGES.

YOU KNOW, IF HE LOCKED UP THE LAST SHOOTER FROM ONE OF THESE TWO GROUPS THAT HAD BEEN FEUDING AND THE GROUPS HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE AND THE VENDETTA AFUELING THE VIOLENCE HAS BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE.

LOCKING UP THE TWO SHOOTERS DOESN'T CHANGE THAT.

THE GROUPS ARE ARE STILL THERE, THE VENDETTA AIS STILL THERE.

IT PRODUCES MORE VIOLENCE.

THE GROUPS CARRY THE VIOLENCE.

AND ALL GVI DOES IS SAY, LIKE THAT IS THE WAY THE STREETS WORK.

IT'S A A SMALL NUMBER OF GROUPS.

THEY'RE NOT HITTING THE POLICE AND THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY KNOW WHO THEY ARE HERE NOT HIDDEN.

AND THEY WILL LISTEN TO PEOPLE THEY RESPECT IN THEIR OWN LIVES.

THEY DON'T NECESSARILY RESPECT THE POLICE OR THE U.S. ATTORNEY.

THEY DON'T NECESSARILY EVEN RESPECT THE PASTORS THEIR ELDERS RESPECT BUT THEY'LL LISTEN TO Mrs. GWEN.

WHEN Mrs. GWEN TELLS THEM WHAT THIS HAS MEANT FOR HER FAMILY, THEY WILL LISTEN.

THEY WILL LISTEN TO THE OLDER O.G.s WHO TELL THEM, THE EMPEROR HAS NO CLOTHES, THE STREETS ARE NOT YOUR FRIEND.

$SO TO INTERRUPT YOU, THE IDEA IS THAT YOU DON'T WANT TO LOCK THEM UP.

YOU ARE TRYING TO GET THEM, WHETHER THEY'RE VICTIMS OR PERPETRATORS TO RECORRECT THEIR PATH WITH ALL OF THESE INTERVENTION STRATEGIES THAT DON'T INVOLVE JAIL TIME.

>> BECAUSE THE VIOLENCE IS SO ROOTED IN GROUPS AND GROUP MEMBERS AND BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THE VIOLENCE IS DREKED AGAINST GROUP AND GROUP MEMBERS, IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO REDUCE THE VIOLENCE IN LOUISVILLE OR ANYWHERE ELSE WITHOUT MAKING THESE VERY HIGH RISK PEOPLE SAFE.

SO THE CATCH PHRASE FOR GVI AND REALLY FOR THE WHOLE WORLD IS SAFE, ALIVE AND FREE.

WE WANT PEOPLE NOT TO GET KILLED NOT TO GET HURT, TO BE SUPPORTED IN THEIR LIVES, TO LISTEN TO PEOPLE IN THERE I COMMUNITY THAT THEY RESPECT AND GVI IS A WAY OF GETTING THAT RIGHT.

WHEN WE GET IT RIGHT, IT CAN HAVE PROFOUND I AM PACK AND RENEE, TO YOUR POINT 678 IT WILL OFTEN CUT ARRESTS IN HALF IN A FEW YEARS CITY WIDE BECAUSE WE ARE NOT DOING A LOT OF THE THINGS THAT DON'T WORK AND THAT DO SO MUCH HARM.

>> Renee: MAYOR FISCHER, I WANT TO COME TO YOU BECAUSE I THINK YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHIME IN HERE AFTER PROFESSOR KENNEDY'S COMMENTARY.

>> I JUST WANT TO EXPAND ON Dr. KENNEDY'S THOUGHTS AND WE APPRECIATE HIS HELP IN OUR CITY.

WHEN YOU THINK OF GVI AS STOPPING THE BLEEDING AS RUSSELL JUST SPOKE ABOUT.

BUT THEN WE'VE GO THE TO ASK OURSELVES, WHY DO THESE CONDITIONS, ARE THEY IN SPECIFIC SMALL PARTS OF COMMUNITIES WHETHER IT'S LOUISVILLE OR ATLANTA OR ANY OTHER PLACE?

THESE ARE COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN UNDERINVESTED FOR GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS, EXPERIENCED TRAUMA AFTER TRAUMA.

BREEDING BROWNED FOR VIOLENT CONDITIONS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE: WHY IS THAT THE?

SYSTEMIC UNDERFUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL, STATE AND CITY LEVEL THAT HAS HELPED CREATE THESE CONDITIONS.

CONDITIONS OF POVERTY THAT WE SEE SO OFTEN IN THE MIDST OF THIS, AND THEN ALSO JUST GUN EVERYWHERE, IF WE DIDN'T HAVE GUNS IN THIS COUNTRY OR CONTROLLED IN A MORE RESPONSIBLE MANNER, WE PAY NOT BE SEEING THE DEATHS THAT WE SEE BECAUSE AMERICA IS AN OUTLIER OF GUN HOMICIDES BY A FACTOR OF 20 OVER THE NEXT INDUSTRIALIZED COUNTRY.

WE HAVE CREATED THOSE CONDITIONS AND I WE HAVE TO FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE SYSTEM AS WELL.

WE HAVE SOME HOPE THAT THERE IS A LOT MOVER FUNDING ON THE WAY RIGHT NOW WITH THE AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN THAT HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED ABOUT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ALLOWS ALL TYPES OF FUNDING FOR COMMUNITY VIOLENCE INTERVENTION THAT WE DID NOT HAVE BEFORE.

AND WITH THE PROPOSED BUDGET COMING UP ON JULY IS, WE'RE QUADRUPLING THE AMOUNT OF FUNDS OUTSIDE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT GO INTO INTERVENTION AND PREVENTION.

YOU CAN'T KEEP MOVING THE CHAIR AS ROUND ON THE "TITANIC."

WE HAVE TO FUNDAMENTALLY CHANGE THE CONDITIONS OF INVESTMENT IN OUR CITIES AROUND THOSE MOST AT RISK WHILE WORKING ON THEIR YOUNGER BROTHERS TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T GO DOWN A LIFE OF CRIME.

>> Renee: WHAT ARE BUDGET NUMBERS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT, MAYOR?

HOW MUCH MORE OF AN INVESTMENT ARE YOU PROPOSING?

>> FROM $5 MILLION TO $20 MILLION A YEAR COMPARED TO A POLICE DEPARTMENT'S BUDGET OF $180 MILLION LEVEL WITH LAST YEAR.

SO YOU CAN SEE THERE IS A LOT MORE MONEY INTO THE ENFORCEMENT ASPECT OF THIS, WHICH IS IMPORTANT BUT WE MANIES NEED TO BE INVESTING MORE SIGNIFICANTLY IN THE NON-LAW ENFORCEMENT PARTS OF MAKING SURE OUR CITIES ARE SAFE.

>> Renee: SO HOW MUCH GOES SPECIFICALLY TOWARDS THE GVI EFFORT?

>> GVI IN TERMS OF HARD COSTS IS AROUND $700,000 WHEN YOU PUT THE PRIVATE SECTOR'S CONTRIBUTION IN PLACE WITH WHAT IS PROPOSED IN THE BUDGET FROM THE CITY BUDGET AS WELL.

AND THERE ARE ALL TYPES OF MAN POWER ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.

THIS MORNING AND COLONEL GWINN COULD TELL US ABOUT THIS.

PARTICIPATING IN A CALL OF 40 PEOPLE OR SO OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE CITY THAT ARE-- WHOSE JOB INTERSECT WITH GUN VIOLENCE.

THAT TAKES PLACE EVERY WEEK.

SO CONVERSATION AROUND WHERE THE CHALLENGES ARE, HOW WE CAN ADDRESS THOSE CHALLENGES, BOTH FROM A LAW ENFORCEMENT STANDPOINT, BUT ALSO A COMMUNITY SERVICES STANDPOINT AS WELL TO MAKE SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO WANT TO GET OUT OF THE LIFE OF CRIME, HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO GET OUT OF THAT.

THOSE THAT DON'T WANT TO GET OUT OF IT, THEY'RE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

>> Renee: MAYOR FISCHER BEFORE I GO TO THE COLONEL, IS THIS A REALLOCATION OF RESOURCES FROM LMPD TO THESE OTHER EFFORTS?

>> NO.

WE'VE KEPT THE LMPD BUDGET FLAT BUT WE ARE SUPPLEMENTING IT WITH OTHER PUBLIC SAFETY VESMS AND WE ARE TRYING TO GET PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THAT SAFE COMMUNITY IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST INVESTMENTS IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

OBVIOUSLY EXTRAORDINARILY CRITICAL, WE ASK THEM TO DO SO MUCH.

SO WE ARE INVESTING IN OTHER AREAS THAT CAN HELP THE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND HELP THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER MAKE IT SAFER.

>> Renee: COLONEL GWINN-VILLAROEL, I'LL ASK YOU TO WEIGH IN HERE.

ARE YOU SUPPORTIVE OF THE COMMITMENT THE MAYOR WANTS TO MAKE?

WE'LL SEE WHERE IT GOES FROM HERE?

>> ABSOLUTELY I'M SUPPORTIVE AND WHAT I'M SUPPORTIVE BECAUSE THE SERVICES AND MOVING INTO JUST REIMAGINING POLICING IS JUST NEEDED.

WE ARE AT A SPACE NOW WHERE WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD: THE REFORMS AND LOOKING AT HOW WE POLICE DIFFERENTLY IS IN A SPACE NOW THAT WE NEED TO DO IT AND JUST MOVE FORWARD.

LMPD IS EMBRACING THAT.

WE KNOW IT'S NEEDED.

OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS ARE IN THE MIND SET THAT WE KNOW WE NEED TO CHANGE.

WE KNOW THAT CHANGE IS GOOD.

WE KNOW THAT IT IS NEEDED FOR RIGHT NOW AND THAT WE ARE MOVING FORWARD AND WHAT THE MAYOR IS SPEAKING TO ARE OUR SHOOTING REVIEWS AS IT RELATES TO THE GVI.

WE ARE MOVING FORWARD.

WE HAVE OUR PARTNERS AT THE TABLE AND WE ARE LOOKING AT THE GVI AND THE GROUP INVOLVED AND WE ARE COLLABORATING AND SEEING HOW WE CAN HELP THESE INDIVIDUALS CHANGE THEIR LIVES AND TAKE ANOTHER DIRECTION AND THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT WANT TO TURN THE CORNER AND TURN THE PAGE IN THEIR LIFE.

SO WE ARE COMING TOGETHER AND SO WE ARE NOT JUST CASTING A WIDE NET OUT HERE.

WE'RE JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE ACTUALLY DOING THE COMPONENTS WHICH IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE BEING IMPACTFUL AND MAKING A CHANGE WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.

WE MUST GET THIS CRIME DOWN AND WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT LMPD IS DOING EVERYTHING WE POSSIBLY CAN IN ORDER TO HEADACHE SURE WE DRIVE THE CRIME DOWN AND WE ARE DOING JUST THAT.

>> Renee: I HATE TO INTERRUPT YOU ON THAT.

TO GET TO PROFESSOR KENNEDY'S POINT THAT HE MADE RIGHT BEFORE WE WENT TO MAYOR FISCHER ABOUT, HE SAID, YOU KNOW, KIDS ARE OFTEN MORE APT TO LISTEN TO MISS GRIN AS THEY ARE, NO RELATION, THAN THEY WOULD BE FOR THE COLONEL GWINN-VILLAROEL, PEOPLE PERHAPS THEY KNOW, THEY CAN MAKE A CONNECTION.

THERE HAS BEEN THE IDEA THAT THERE IS A WAR ON CRIME, A WAR ON DRUGS, A WAR ON POVERTY, ALL OF THESE WARS BUT HOW IMPORTANT IS LANGUAGE AND TALKING ABOUT NOT JUST BEING A WAR BUT BEING COMMUNITY AND RELATIONSHIP BUILDING?

IS LMPD INVESTED IN BEING RELATIONSHIP BUILDERS WITH THE COMMUNITIES WHO EITHER FEEL OVER POLICE OR UNDERPROTECTED?

>> IT IS CRITICAL AND A TIME WHEN WE ARE HEARING THE COMMUNITY SAYING AND CONTRARY TO WHAT OTHERS MAY BELIEVE, WE ARE HEARING THE COMMUNITY SAYING THAT THEY WANT TO SEE US.

AND THAT IS A POSITIVE THING.

THEY WANT TO SEE US BUT THEY WANT TO SEE US OUT OF OUR CARS.

THEY WANT TO SEE US EVERYTHING A CONVERSATION WITH THEM.

THEY WANT TO SEE US ACTUALLY NOT JUST ONLY SHOWING UP WHEN THEY'RE IN CRISIS, BUT THEY ACTUALLY WANT TO SEE US ACTUALLY HAVING A CONVERSATION.

ACTUALLY DIALOGUING WITH THEM AND GETTING BACK TO HAVING ACTUALLY COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT WITH THEM AND ACTUALLY GOING BACK TO THAT COMMUNITY POLICING ASPECT THAT THEY LONG FOR.

THEY ARE ASKING FOR THAT.

THEY WANT THAT.

AND WE WANT TO SUPPLY THEM WITH THAT.

AND SO, YES, EVEN WHEN I AM GOING OUT THERE, AND I AM ACTUALLY GOING OUT THERE AS IT RELATES TO GVI AND I'M ACTUALLY GOING OUT THERE TO THE COMMUNITY AND I'M SHOWING UP, I AM SHOWING UP, AND I'M KNOCKING ON THE DOORS.

I'M IN UNIFORM.

BUT WHEN I'M GOING, AND I'M ACTUALLY HAVING THE CONVERSATIONS WITH THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF A CRIME, WHO HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN A VICTIM OF A HOMICIDE AND I AM SHOWING UP, COLONEL GWINN, DEPUTY CHIEF, WHATEVER MY TITLE MAY BE, WHATEVER THEY WANT TO CALL ME THAT DAY.

THEY'RE SEEING ME AT THAT MOMENT CARING ABOUT THEM, THAT THEY HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF AN UNFORTUNATE INCIDENT AND NOW WE ARE HAVING A HUMAN CONVERSATION, NOT ONLY THERE BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN A VICTIM OF A CRIME BUT NOW I'M LOOKING AT WHAT ELSE DO YOU NEED.

AND SO THAT'S WAS WE AS A LEADERSHIP, CHIEF SHIELDS AND MYSELF, NOW WE WANT TO HELP OUR OFFICERS NOW TO SEE, NOW LET'S LOOK AT WHAT IS THE HUMAN NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

WHAT ELSE DO THEY NEED?

AND THAT'S WHERE THE SERVICES COME INTO PLAY SO WE CAN HELP THE COMMUNITY.

SO YES, LANGUAGE IS SO CRITICAL AND THAT'S WHERE THE SPACE THAT NOW WE WANT TO MOVE OUR DEPARTMENT FORWARD IN.

IT'S CRITICAL.

>> Renee: Dr. WILLIAMS, I WANT TO COME TO YOU TO ANSWER THAT SINCE SHE BROUGHT UP THE ACRONYM OF OSHA, THE OFFICE OF SAFE AND HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS.

HOW LANGUAGE MATTERS.

HOW GUN VIOLENCE IS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE AND PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT AND WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A MOMENT.

BUT FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHEN WE FRAME NOT JUST WHAT WE CALL IT, BUT HOW YOU ACTUALLY ARE ACTIVATED TO SOLVE IT, WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT?

>> LANGUAGE IS HUGE.

AND I MEAN I KNOW YOU SAID Dr. MILLER HAS GOING TO SPEAK TO THIS BUT I DON'T KNOW HOW NOT TO SPEAK TO IT BECAUSE YOU KNOW, MY BACKGROUND IS PUBLIC HEALTH.

SO EVEN HOW WE ARE FRAMING THE ISSUE OF GUN VIOLENCE NOW AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE VERSUS A CRIMINAL JUSTICE ISSUE HOW YOU FRAME THE LANGUAGE AND DEFINE THE THING DETERMINES HOW YOU RESPOND TO THAT.

AS WE TALK ABOUT THIS FROM A PUBLIC HEALTH PERSPECTIVE, IT ALLOWS FOR DIFFERENT LANGUAGE TO BE USED AND SO CRITICAL TO SOME OF WHAT HAS BEEN TALKED ABOUT, WHICH YOU JUST ASKED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, LMPD BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS, ANY OF THE GUN VIOLENCE REDUCTION STRATEGY THAT EXIST IN THE RESEARCH, THE CRITICAL KEY POINT WITHIN EACH OF THOSE STRATEGIES, GVI INCLUDED, IS RELATIONSHIP BUILDING.

BEING ABLE TO CONNECT TO INDIVIDUALS, ESSENTIALLY, WHO HAVE BEEN TRAUMATIZED TO IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, WHO WANT TO FEEL A CONNECTION, WHO WANT TO FEEL UNDERSTOOD, SEEN AND HEARD AND THEN YOU HAVE THEIR EAR TO BE ABLE TO DEAL WITH WHATEVER THE BEHAVIORS ARE THAT MAY NEED TO CHANGE, BUT HOW WE EVEN ENGAGE AND TALK ABOUT THOSE INDIVIDUALS WHETHER YOU ARE CALLING THEM, YOU KNOW, PERPETRATORS OR A LOT OF THEM, ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT YOUNG PEOPLE, WHO HAVEN'T HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO EVEN DEVELOP COMPLETELY TO KNOW RIGHT OR WRONG BUT ARE VICTIMS OF THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES, AND IF WE ARE SEEING THEM AS YOUNG PEOPLE AND ENGAGING THEM IN RELATIONSHIPS WITH CARING ADULTS, THEN WE BEGIN TO SEE DIFFERENCES.

IF WE ARE NOT TREATING THEM LIKE PERPETRATORS BUT WE ARE TREATING THEM LIKE THEY'RE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE EXISTING IN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT ARE, A LOT OF TIMES, OUTSIDE OF THEIR CONTROL, DUE TO ALL OF THE FACTORS THAT GO INTO CREATING THE CONDITIONS FOR THEIR COMMUNITIES TO BE MORE CONDUCIVE TO VIOLENCE.

SO HOW WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THIS ISSUE IS KEY TO US GETTING TO OUTCOMES THAT WE WANT TO GET TO BECAUSE IT CHANGES OUR APPROACH.

>> Renee: Dr. MILLER.

>> Dr. WILLIAMS IS THE EXPERT ON THIS ONE.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT.

>> THE LANGUAGE MATTERS.

WE READILY ACCEPTED THE MOTION THAT COVID WAS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE.

THAT CHANGED THE WHOLE WAY WE REACTED TO IT AS Dr. WILLIAMS SAID.

PUBLIC LITTLE ISSUES, WE ADDRESS DIFFERENTLY JUST FOR THOSE THAT ARE WATCHING, WE DEFINE, WE DESIGN, WE EVALUATE AND WE IMPLEMENT.

, WE EVALUATE THOSE AND IMPLEMENT THE ONES THAT WORK LIKE GVI, LIKE PIVOT TO PEACE OR HOSPITAL BASED INJURY PREVENTION PROGRAMS WITH THE OFFICE OF SAFE AND HEALTHY NEIGHBORHOODS.

THIS IS THE WAY WE ADDRESS THE ISSUE.

IF YOU LOOK AT IT, IT IS TOO COMPLEX AND INCOMPREHENSIBLE.

SO YOU INCERTAIN THE PROGRAMS-- ININSERT THE PROGRAMS TO THE CONTRIBUTING.

HOW A SURGEON MAY UNDERSTAND WHAT A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE REALLY IS BUT THE LAPPING WINNING ABSOLUTELY MATTERS.

>> CHRISTOPHER, I WANT TO ASK YOU, DO YOU THINK THERE HAS BEEN ENOUGH RESOURCES TIME AND ATTENTION TO THE PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT OF GUN VLINGS AS IT IS TO OPIOID ADDICTION, AS IT HAS BEEN TO COVID?

HOW WOULD YOU RANK THAT AND WHAT WOULD YOU HOPE THAT YOU COULD LOOK AT HOW THE VALLIANS BEHIND THOSE EFFORTS COULD BE TRANSFERRED AND PARLEYED INTO ERADICATING VIOLENT CRIME?

>> THERE HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH INVESTMENT IN IT AND AGAIN, RENEE, WHEN YOU GO TO THE SPACES WHERE I REALLY FOCUS ON THE LITTLEST KIDS, TO SEE AND TRY TO MEASURE THE IMPACT ON THEM, ALL THIS RECKLESS GUN PLAY.

REMEMBER, THEY DON'T GET DIRECTLY HIT BY BULLETS BUT THEY HEAR THE GUNFIRE, AND UNFORTUNATELY STRAY BULLETS MIGHT HIT THEIR HOUSES AND WHEN YOU SEE THE EFFECTS IN EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT WHERE KIDS, AND YOU TALK TO SOME OF THE DIRECTORS AND THE TEACHERS, WHERE KIDS ARE TAKING LEGO BLOCKS AND MIMICKING WHAT IS GOING ON IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND THREE, FOUR AND FIVE YEARS OLD AND YOU HEAR QUICKLY RENEE FROM ELEMENTARY SCHOOLTEACHERS, WHO TELL YOU, AND PRINCIPALS WHO TELL YOU BEFORE THEY START K-12, YOU KNOW YOU HAVE A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AND YOU KNOW YOU NEED TO PUT MORE FUNDS INTO THE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES AND ACTUALLY PROMOTE HEART IN THE EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION SPACES AND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL SPACES.

>> Renee: GOOD NEWS BECAUSE YOU AND Dr. MILLER AND ATTORNEY COLEMAN OF WORVEGGING TOGETHER FOR SOMETIME AND WITH Dr. MILLER, YOU HAVE THE FUTURE HEALERS PROGRAM.

SO I WANT TO YOU BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT THIS AND WE'LL SHARE A PHOTO THAT WE HAVE OF YOU.

>> RIGHT.

HERE IS WHAT PEOPLE WILL NEVER UNDERSTAND IN THE PHOTO.

THE FOUR KIDS THAT ARE THE FACE OF THIS ARE FOUR KIDS THAT ALMOST GOT HIT BY ACHE AK-47S BUT WE NEVER PUT THEIR PICTURE OUT THERE TO SAY THESE ARE THE FOUR KIDS THAT ALMOST GOT HIT BY AK-47 ROUNDS.

SO THE U OF L TRAUMA, SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, SCHOOL OF HEALTH, STUDENT MEDICAL ASSOCIATION AT U OF L AND CHRISTOPHER 2X GAME CHANGERS IS TO CHANGE THE IMAGERY OF HOW WE LOOK, EXPRESSLY AT AFRICAN AFRICAN-AMERICAN KIDS SO WE PUT THEM IN SCRUBSES WITH STETHOSCOPE AS ROUND THEIR NECKS, SURGICAL ROOM TO SAY THESE ARE FUTURE HEALERS AND THAT PHOTO HAS GOT GREAT RESPONSE IN THE SENSE THAT HOPE CAN BE ON THE WAY.

LONG-TERM WORK, NOT EASY.

VIOLENCE IS VERY NASTY, RENEE, BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY, OUR FUTURE HEALERS PROGRAM WILL GROW BETWEEN THE HOSPITAL AND THE PILOT PROJECT AT THE CHESTNUT STREET YMCA AND BACK TO SCHOOL AND EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT CENTER.

>> Renee: I WANT TO COME TO YOU BECAUSE THE QUESTION I'M SURE A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE IS HOW SUSTAINABLE IS THE GROUP VIOLENCE INTERVENTION EFFORT AND WE KNOW WITH THE BOSTON MIRACLE, THERE WAS SOME REVERSAL OF THOSE GAINS AND PROGRESS LATER ON.

SO HOW SUSTAINABLE IS IT?

IT IS EASY TO HAVE OPTIMISM NOW WHEN IT'S AN IDEA BUT THE APPLICATION COULD BE QUITE DIFFERENT.

WE STRUGGLED WITH THIS QUESTION FOR THE LONGEST TIME AND THE WORLD I'M PART OF IS, I WANT TO SHARE Dr. MILLER'S UMBRELLA OF SERIOUSNESS ABOUT OUTCOMES BECAUSE WE FEEL THE SAME WAY.

WE ARE RUTHLESS ABOUT OUTCOMES.

AND SO WE TOOK ON THIS QUESTION OF INSTITUTIONALIZATION AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR YEARS AND TRIED TO FIGURE OUT THE ENGINEERING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM YOU DESCRIBE, WHICH IS LOTS OF PLACES HAVE DONE THIS AND THEN THEY'VE LET IT FALL APART.

AND WE TOOK ON RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, EVENTUALLY WE REALIZE THAT THAT WAS NOT OUR PROBLEM.

IT WAS OUR PROBLEM THAT THINGS WERE FALLING APART, BUT YOUR ANSWER, YOUR HAS A VERY SIMPLE ANSWER TO IT, WHICH IS THESE THINGS ARE SUSTAINED WHEN ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS DO THE WORK THAT ARE NEEDED TO SUSTAIN THEM.

NOBODY CAN MAKE APPOINTED OR ELECTED OFFICIALS DO THINGS THEY DON'T WANT TO DO.

THEY'LL FIND WAYS NOT TO DO THOSE THINGS.

IF THEY WANT TO DO THEM AND PART OF THAT IS COMMUNITIES DEMANDING THAT THE THEY DO THE WORK IN THAT WAY, IT WILL BE SUSTAINED.

THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN IN BOSTON.

THE PEOPLE, AS ELECTED AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS DIDN'T CARE ENOUGH ABOUT IT TO KEEP IT GOING.

YOU KNOW, THE IS CERTAIN CHANGES THAT WE ARE HEARING FROM CHIEF GWINN-VILLAROEL, PEOPLE DON'T THINK THAT SENIOR POLICE OFFICIALS TALK THE WAY YOU JUST HEARD HER TALK.

THE PROFESSION OF FRONT LINE PUBLIC SAFETY IS REALLY CHANGING IN THE WAY THAT SHE IS DESCRIBED.

AND TO LOOK AT Dr. MILLER AND THE MEDICAL PROFESSION, AGAIN, THERE IS REAL REASON FOR HOPE HERE.

NO DISRESPECT, Dr. MILLER, BUT IT WASN'T THAT LONG AGO IN HISTORIC TERMS THAT YOUR PROFESSION OF SURGERY WAS PRACTICED BY BARBERS AND NOBODY WANTED ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT FIELD OF PRACTICE AND YOUR WORLD INVENTED MEDICINE AND THE PROFESSION OF MEDICINE OUT OF THAT REALITY.

WE THINK WE ARE SEEING THE BEGINNING OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE PRACTICE OF PUBLIC SAFETY OUT OF THOSE SAME, YOU KNOW, PRIMITIVE BEGINNINGS.

AND THE BETTER WE ARE ALL ARE ON THIS, RENEE, THE BETTER THIS STUFF WILL STICK.

>> Renee: RUSSELL.

>> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT, AND I'M GLAD YOU ASKED THE QUESTION ABOUT SUSTAIN BUILT BUT WE ARE NOT THERE YET.

WE HAVEN'T ROLLED IT OUT IN LOUISVILLE.

I LOOK FORWARD TO US DEBATING THAT DOWN THE ROAD.

BUT WE NEED TO IMPLEMENT GVI WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY IN LOUISVILLE.

AND WE HAVEN'T DONE THAT YET.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M SO GRATEFUL TO OUR MAYOR.

I'M SO GRATEFUL TO OUR GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, OUR COUNTY ATTORNEY, OUR COMMONWEALTH ATTORNEY.

THIS IS NOT AN R OR D ISSUE.

NORMALLY THERE IS A CONFLICT HERE VERSUS THERE.

EVERYBODY IS ON THE SAME PAGE HERE.

YOU HAVE THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE METRO COUNCIL AND PRESIDENT DAVID JAMES WHO LEADS THE D. YOU HAVE THE FEDS WORKING TOGETHER, ALL OF THE ACRONYM ENTITIES.

WE ARE ALL ROWING TOGETHER.

YOU HAVE THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND THAT'S AN IMPORTANT POINT THE MAYOR MENTIONED.

THIS HAS BEEN FUNDED BY THE PRIVATE SECTOR THUS FAR.

THE MAYOR IS TALKING ABOUT FUTURE FUNDING AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BIG NUMBERS.

BUT I'M NOT HERE TALKING ABOUT GVI TO PUT A HAND OUT.

I'M NOT TALKING TO TO THE LEGISLATORS WHO WATCH THE PROGRAM ASKING FOR MONEY.

WE HAVE THIS FUNDED FOR THE NEAR TERM TO ROLL OUT NOW AND I APPLAUD THE MAYOR AND FUNDING THIS AND ANCILLARY SUPPORT TO THIS GOING FORWARD.

BUT WE HAVE THE PIECES IN PLACE NOW.

THIS NEEDS TO BE 6-- 66 HOMICIDES AND 250 NON-FATAL SHOOTINGS IN LOUISVILLE.

WE NEED TO ROLL THIS OUT WITH SOME DEGREE OF URGENCY.

I APPLAUSE THE "STAR WARS" BAR, THE LEFT, THE RIGHT, THE Rs AND Ds, WE DON'T WORK TOGETHER IN GOVERNMENT SHOCKINGLY ENOUGH.

WE ARE ROWING TOGETHER ON THIS.

WE NEED TO ROLL IT OUT IN LOUISVILLE WITH A SENSE OF URGENCY TO SAVE LIVES.

>> Renee: IS THERE BUY-IN TO ROLL IT OUT?

IF EVERYBODY IS ROWING TOGETHER?

WHO IS NOT IN SYNC WITH THE PLAN?

>> BASED ON WHAT I SEE WITH THE SHOOTING REVIEWS, THAT SENSE OF URGENCY IS THERE.

RUSSELL HAS BEEN GONE FOR A COUPLE OF MONTHS NOW.

REALLY GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR HELPING TO BRING THE PROGRAM TO LIGHT WITH THIS.

THE SENSE OF URGENCY IS THERE RIGHT NOW.

BUT I WANT TO SAY THAT GVI IS AN IMPORTANT PROGRAM, OKAY AND IT'S GOING TO HELP US.

BUT UNTIL THE COUNTRY REALLY TAKES ON THESE DEEPER ISSUES AROUND POVERTY, AROUND GUN SAFETY, YOU ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH VIOLENT CRIMES.

SO I DON'T WANT US TO LOOK AT ANY ONE OF THESE PROGRAMS AS THE CURE ALL.

I KNOW WE ARE NOT DOING THAT HERE WITH THE PROGRAM.

SO THOSE ISSUES HAVE BEEN WITH OUR COUNTRY FOR GENERATIONS.

THEY HAVE BEEN AT THE HEART OF WHAT OUR VIOLENT CRIEP PROBLEMS-- CRIME PROBLEMS HAVE BEEN IN AMERICA.

AGAIN, I COMPARE US TO OTHER COUNTRIES AND AMERICANS HAVE TO ASK WHY US?

IT'S A COMBINATION OF POVERTY AND GUNS AT THE CENTER OF ALL OF THIS.

WE HAVE TO HAVE CRIME FIGHTING TECHNIQUES TO ATTACK THAT.

BUT UNTIL WE CHANGE THE BIG SYSTEMS, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO HAVE SOME OF THE ISSUES AROUND THAT.

I'M HOPEFUL IN THAT WE HAVE AN ADMINISTRATION RIGHT NOW THAT IS PRIORITIZING THESE BROADER RESPONSES TO POVERTY.

I HOPE MY THEORY WILL BE TRUE; THAT IF YOU REDUCE POVERTY, THAT WILL HELP.

BUT WE STILL HAVE A GUN PANDEMIC IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> Renee: SO WHAT CAN THE CITY OF LOUISVILLE DO?

AND DOING JUST WHAT YOU WANT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO DO?

WHAT CAN THE CITY RESPONSE BE TO ERADICATION OF POVERTY OR EASING OF POVERTY?

AND ARE YOU WILLING TO DO IT?

>> WE CAN-- WELL, WE ARE DOING WHAT YOU CAN AT THE CITY LEVEL BUT FRANKLY THAT'S WHERE THE SMALL MONEY IS, RIGHT?

WE DO JOB UPSKILLING SO SOMEBODY CAN GO FROM TWO DEAD END JOBS TO A TECHNOLOGY CAREER.

THOSE ARE THINGS WE CAN CONTROL.

OUR SUMMER WORKS PROGRAMS, ET CETERA.

BUT THE BIG MONEY STARTS AT THE FEDERAL LEAF.

GOES TO OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM, OUT OF SCHOOL TIME SUPPORT SO EVERYBODY HAS A CHANCE FOR A POSTSECONDARY EDUCATION.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE DISRUPTER OF POVERTY.

AND OF COURSE GUN LAWS.

OUR CITY IS PREEMPTED FROM TAKING ANY KIND OF ACTION ON GUNS IN TERMS OF GUN SET OF SAFETY.

WHEN I TRY TO HAVE ANY SENSIBLE GUN REFORM AT THE STATE LEVEL, I'M LAUGHED AT.

AND OF COURSE THERE IS A HUGE BATTLE AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL AS WELL.

WE'VE GOT THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

WE ALL KNOW THAT.

BUT THAT DID NOT FORESHADOW THE TYPE OF WEAPONRY THAT WE SEE ON OUR STREETS, THE HIGH CALIBUR WEAPONRY THAT CAN BE MORE THAN WHAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE AS WELL.

WE SEE THAT USED PERSON TO PERSON.

WE SEE THAT USED AGAINST OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

THE COUNTRY IS JUST OUT OF CONTROL WITH THE GUN ISSUE RIGHT NOW AND UNTIL WE GET OUR HANDLE AROUND THAT, WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO OBVIOUS WILL YOU SEE GUN VIOLENCE.

>> Renee: I WANT TO COME TO YOU FOR PERHAPS THE CLOSING COMMENT ABOUT THAT BECAUSE THAT SEALS TO BE THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM THAT WE ARE NOT TALKING ABOUT THE PROLIFERATION OF GUNS AND IF WE ADDRESS THAT, THAT COULD GO IT TO THE HEART OF WHAT IS HAPPENING IN LOUISVILLE.

>> THE END OF 2019 I STOOD AT A PODIUM WITH OUR COMMONWEALTH'S ATTORNEY WITH OUR FEDERAL LEADERSHIP WITH THE THEN CHIEF OF LMPD AND APPLAUDED THE FACT THAT WE PUSHED VERY HARD TO INCREASE FEDERAL FIREARMS PROSECUTIONS.

THOSE FELONS THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE A WEAPON, PRECLUDED BY LAW, ENFORCING THE LAWS ON THE BOOKS.

THOSE DOMESTIC ABUSERS OR DRUG ADDICTS WHO SHOULDN'T HAVE FIREARMS.

WE INCREASED THE PROSECUTIONS.

I WAS PLEASED TO STAND THERE AND SAY ALMOST 70%.

THAT WAS THE TOOL WE WERE GOING TO IMPLEMENT TO SAVE LIVES.

AND RENEE, WE STILL HAD 93 HOMICIDES THAT YEAR.

WE WERE FAILING.

BEG, BORROW AND STEALING TO MOVE AGGRESSIVELY USING TRADITIONAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TOOLS, AND WE WERE FAILING.

THAT'S WHY DAVID KENNEDY AND GVI ARE IN LOUISVILLE, OUT OF A SENSE OF FAILURE AND I KNOW THAT MANY JURISDICTIONS ARE FACING AN INCREASE IN VIOLENT CRIME BUT I WASN'T THE U.S. ATTORNEY FOR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION THAN THE ONE THAT INCLUDED LOUISVILLE.

I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THOSE NUMBERS.

>> Renee: CHRISTOPHER, I'M GOING TO ALLOW TO YOU GIVE US THE FINAL WORD ABOUT THE HOPE THAT YOU HAVE; THAT THIS TIME NEXT YEAR, WE WON'T BE REPEATING THE SAME NUMBERS THAT WE ARE ON MAY 19 AT THE TIME THIS PROGRAM WAS RECORDED.

>> IT SEEMS LIKE RENEE, OVER TIME, WE ARE RECOGNIZING AGAIN WHETHER YOU WANT TO CALL P A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS OR JUST BRUTAL CRIME, AT THE END OF THE DAY, WE ARE RECOGNIZING LIVES ARE BEING DAMAGED, THE GREPS GAVE A WONDERFUL TESTIMONY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW AND IF WE CAN'T TRY TO RALLY AROUND THE KIDS THAT ARE BEING IMPACTED LASTLY, THE INVISIBLE KIDS THAT OUR VIEWERS CAN'T SEE STILLS, THEN WHAT ARE WE DOING?

WE CANNOT ALLOW KIDS TO BE TRAUMATIZED THE WAY THEY ARE AND NOT CARE.

IF YOU DON'T CARE ANYTHING ABOUT THE YOUNG ADULTS, CARE ABOUT THE KIDS WHO UNDERSTAND THAT EVERY COMMUNITY NEEDS SAFE SPACES TO THRIVE IN.

>> Renee: THANK YOU FOR GIVING US THAT PERSPECTIVE ON THE COLLATERAL DAMAGE THAT WE DON'T OFTEN TALK ABOUT.

AND WE THANK ALL OF OUR GUESTS FOR BEING WITH US TONIGHT.

WE APPRECIATE YOU AND PARTICULAR DAVID KENNEDY FOR JOINING US FROM NEW YORK AND THE MAYOR AND THE DEPUTY CHIEF AND ALL OF THOSE IN, Dr. WILLIAMS AND THOSE IN THE LEXINGTON STUDIO.

IT HAS BEEN A PLEASURE TO HAVE THIS DISCUSSION WITH YOU TONIGHT.

AND WE WILL KEEP AT IT.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING FROM HOME OR WHEREVER YOU ARE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PRIVILEGE OF YOUR TIME THIS EVENING.

TAKE REALLY GOOD CARE AND WE'LLY SEE YOU AGAIN REAL SOON.