“I would place more emphasis on prevention and intervention,” such as by devoting more resources to local groups that offer social, recreation and education activities.
—Thomas Warren, Urban League of Nebraska president, former Omaha police chief
“We must continue to expand our efforts to address gang and gun violence at their roots, including enhanced education and employment opportunities. Our community has many nonprofit organizations and law enforcement agencies that are coordinating to address the symptoms that lead to a life of violence, but we must continue to take that effort to the next level.”
Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle
“We have a multifaceted problem. If there was one magic bullet, no pun intended, we would have found it by now.” Omaha should do three things, although “I’m not being critical of our Police Department”: 1. Bring the police force to full authorized strength; “we don’t have enough shoe leather on the street.” 2. Continue seeking best practices from around the world. 3. Fine-tune laws so they aren’t an impediment to police and prosecutors.
Garry Gernandt, Omaha City Council president, retired police officer
More people should become involved in gang intervention. “That doesn’t have to be police. ... Different organizations getting involved with kids — in their lives, every day.”
Alex Hayes, Omaha police chief
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