A local non-profit that intervenes in neighborhood conflicts to de-escalate violence says the drop in the city's murder rate is proof that it's working. Show Me Peace works to create a culture of peace, intervene in conflict and reduce homicides and gun violence in the Ville, Wells-Goodfellow, Walnut Park and Dutchtown neighborhoods.
Jason Watson is the senior vice-president of engagement for Mission St. Louis and oversees Show Me Peace. Hear his interview on KMOX with Debbie Monterrey here:
Police have a role to play, says Watson, but they come after the fact to investigate a crime, not to intervene.
"Our role is to say, 'Let's identify where the root cause of the conflict is,' then we use our violence interrupters who are from that area to go in and have conversations with both sides," he explains. "We're using our respect and our influence in those communities to go talk to the two parties who have the conflict."
Watson says the city's murder rate overall is down as much as 40% this year. In the neighborhoods they serve, it's down even more than that--as much as 52% year over year.