The Wichita Police Department (WPD), is implementing the Strategic Engagement to Reduce Violence (SERV), Initiative, expressly aimed at reducing violent crime victimization among Wichita youth and young adults.
SERV is a community policing initiative that seeks to reduce gun violence and violent crime in Wichita. This proactive approach attempts to prevent shootings by making violent offenders aware of consequences that will follow violent acts in an effort to persuade behavior through voluntary compliance.
"This initiative grew from WPD's involvement in the Department of Justice's (DOJ) National Public Safety Partnership (PSP)," Chief Gordon Ramsay said. "Similar models have shown success across the country, and the initiative is a collaboration between local, state, federal law enforcement agencies and the community. WPD is looking forward to this new approach in helping reduce violent crime."
The strategy involves six phases,
· Phase 1: High-Risk Individual Selection;
· Phase 2: Notification;
· Phase 3: Call-in Session;
· Phase 4: Enforcement/Service Delivery;
· Phase 5: Follow-up communication; and
· Phase 6: Assessment.
Through the phases of the strategy, selected candidates are informed of the concerns WPD has with decisions they made and the responsibility they have on being selected into the initiative. Additionally, the candidates are provided resources, community contacts, and direction on making correct choices to eventually be removed from the program and assisting others in making positive choices.
