Warren city leaders working to reduce violence with Violence Interrupters program

Violent crime is an issue that continues to plague our local communities and it's causing city leaders in Warren to get creative with finding ways to fight back against it.

After yet another shooting broke out at a home in Warren this past week, officials came together to continue to brainstorm ways to reduce crime in the city.

One local pastor, along with a group of other individuals, has been jumping right into the thick of it, with their Violence Interrupters program.

"At the point of impact when a crime has taken place, when the victim has just been impacted, whether they've been shot, stabbed, a victim of domestic violence, that's the point where we're trying to get in the hospital," Joseph Walker, Pastor of Restoration Christian Fellowship church said. "Talk to them about life decisions and then giving them the resources," he said.

Those resources include education, housing, employment, food and mentorship, among other things. Pastor Walker said he's seen this program make a difference in the lives of those in his community.

"We've gotten calls from people who were in critical situations, or about to make some detrimental decisions that would impact families, impact themselves, impact our community, and we've been able to intervene or become a resource for them so that they would make a different decision," Walker said.

Pastor Walker also said it's going to take more than just Violence Interrupters to tackle the issue of violent crime. He said it takes an entire community working together.