Kenosha violence interruption program launch
KENOSHA, Wis. - A group of 20 volunteers in Kenosha aims to bridge the gap between the community and its police department on violent crime. Organizers hope the alternative policing strategy will prevent violence and promote peace.
The mission of the Kenosha Coalition Organizing Resolution (KCOR) is to develop and mobilize leaders to interrupt systemic racism and violence in the city through community-based peer support and de-escalation, according to organizers.
The group has spent months training at Grace Lutheran Church, learning de-escalation, mediation and even self-defense to help keep Kenosha safe.
"We're here as a whole," said Brandon Wheat, Kenosha Coalition Organizing for Resolution 1st minister of defense. "We're here to help you. We're not here to harm you. We're not here to interrupt, but at the same time, we are here to interrupt violence."
Following a tumultuous summer 2020, from the shooting of Jacob Blake to clashes in the streets resulting in millions of dollars in property damage, Interim Police Chief Eric Larsen acknowledges the community had to do something.
"As violent crime has gone up, our arrests have gone up and they continue, so it was kind of clear that arrest wasn't completing everything that we need from it," said Larsen.
Enter the KCOR, whose on-call teams of volunteers and "violence interrupters" will respond to situations that could become violent to prevent the violence from happening altogether through conversation and intervention.
"We should be able to call on each other," said Nick Dennis, Kenosha Coalition Organizing for Resolution president. "We shouldn't have to call the police in a situation where we can solve the problem."
There's hope the new approach can bring new solutions and decrease crime.
"We're gonna have to take courageous steps into a different direction than what we're used to because the old way isn't working," said Minister Caliph Muab'El, Kenosha Coalition Organizing Resolution organizer.
If you see a situation that could turn violent, you're asked to call the KCOR for help. That number is 608-617-3231.
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