The Role of the Community in Reducing Crime and Violence

The FBI reported last week that homicides dropped during the first half of last year. What’s behind this promising news? Can the numbers be reduced even more? What about other violent and nonviolent crimes? Bob’s guests are Chief Rodney Monroe, Police Chief in Charlotte, North Carolina; and Arthur “Rico” Rush and Tyrone Parker, founders of the Alliance of Concerned Men. Chief Monroe has been Chief of Police in Richmond, Virginia, and Assistant Chief in Washington, DC, where he was instrumental in working with neighborhood groups to reduce crime and bring civil order to some of the District’s most violence-plagued neighborhoods. The Alliance is a group of men who grew up in some of the most troubled neighborhoods of Washington, DC and faced and overcame their own challenges over the years. As adults, they came together and decided to use their experiences and their street influence to try to help young people avoid the mistakes they had made. Over the years they have brought together gang members and created truces, and they have helped hundreds of young people turn away from the street life to become responsible young adults.

Episode Segments:

Chief Rodney Monroe Chief Monroe discusses the drop in violence around the country in the past year, and why he believes there was a turnaround. He also talks about the lessons he took out of his time working in the violence-plagued areas of Washington DC.
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The Truce at Benning Terrace Charlie Penny, founder of the Benning Terrace Youth Opportunity, joins the program to talk about what life was like growing up in the warzone of Benning Terrace in Washington DC. Arthur “Rico” Rush of the Alliance of Concerned Men talks about the truce they negotiated between the rival gangs, and how its influence spread across the country.
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The Benning Terrace Youth Opportunity Charlie talks his positive work in the community, and gives us some details about his program & how its helping young adults behave better in schools and the community.
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