Keeping up the pressure for peace

The chairman of the task force praised a U.S. attorney for reducing gun violence.
By ROGER G. SMITH
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- U.S. Attorney Greg White is proud to say shootings and homicides in the city are down.
To keep it that way, the community needs to remain vigilant and keep law enforcement focused, he said. He points to groups like the Mayor's Task Force on Crime and Violence Prevention.
"That transcends any one individual or office holder," said White, a prime mover in the reduction of gun crimes since he was appointed early last year.
White is the keynote speaker at the task force's annual banquet at 6 p.m. Monday at the Youngstown Club downtown. The group will hand out its 2004 Peace Awards.
Groups like the task force, church leaders and others need to continue the drumbeat against violence to make sure the city doesn't slip, White said.
"It has to be a community saying 'We've had enough,' " he said.
White said cooperation among community leaders, law enforcement and prosecutors is making the Gun Reduction Interdiction Program a success.
For example, 117 felons were indicted for gun possession in 2002. Last year, GRIP's first, that number was up to 155. Through September the count is 142 and should exceed last year's total, White said.
The average sentence is nearly five years in prison, he said.
"That gives a community an opportunity to heal," he said.
Partner
The Rev. Alfred Coward, task force chairman, said he liked that White approached city leaders last summer about cutting the number of shootings and homicides.
The resulting program -- GRIP -- accomplished that goal, he said.
"It makes you feel like a partner with him," the Rev. Mr. Coward said. "He came in on fire. He is a solution-oriented person."
White has followed up since then, too, Mr. Coward said. The city hasn't had a U.S. attorney pay such close attention to the area, he said.
White also share's the task force's mission of improving quality of life in the city, Mr. Coward said.
New categories
The task force is adding two categories this year in its Peace Awards, in addition to the volunteers and groups usually honored.
The Integrity Award goes to Charles Blackwell, a 12-year-old who last year found $1,500 as he was walking home from Warren Western Reserve Middle School and turned the money into Warren police.
Police turned the cash over to the youth and his family earlier this year when nobody claimed the money.
Edna Pincham will receive the Vision Award. Pincham, as administrative assistant to former mayor Pat Ungaro, urged the task's force's creation, Coward said.
In addition, the state attorney general's office will award the task force $2,500 to buy and distribute emergency porch light bulbs to elderly city residents.
The bulbs can be set to flash if there is an emergency.
Two years ago, the state office gave the task force $5,000 to start the distribution.
rgsmith@vindy.com