Orange County, Orlando announce new crime-fighting program

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — Some of Orlando and Orange County’s most dangerous neighborhoods will soon see a new effort in cutting down on crime.

The new, $800,000 program, called Operation Ceasefire, was credited with reducing murders in Boston in the 1990s, and has been replicated around the country.

Social service workers enter rough neighborhoods and target a small group of people they consider most likely to commit crimes.

The goal of the program is to target young people, who are most at risk for gun violence, through partnerships and social service work.

Leaders of the new program said they’re sick of people dying in their neighborhood.

Emery James, an Orlando resident who once lived a life of crime, said he’s getting into the program to be an example to others.

“I don’t get in trouble no more. I don’t want to be in any trouble. So just look at me and if I did it, anybody can do it,” he said.

The program will be rolling out in Orlando on the streets of Pine Hills and Parramore over the next few weeks.

With backing from the mayor, Commissioner Regina Hill and the Orange County Sheriff’s Office, Ceasefire fights crime in a unique way.

“We use criminologists to say, where’s the biggest crimes? Where are the feuds going on? And everyone coordinates to kind of diffuse it instead of just punishing and locking people up,” said Miles Mulrain of the Let Your Voice Be Heard organization.

Mulrain and James will go into neighborhoods to work with at-risk youth.

James said he knows teenagers can relate to what he’s been through and he’s convinced he’ll be able to change hearts and mindsets.

“That enabled me to have compassion to give back and try to steer them in a positive direction so they won’t have to go to jail,” James said.

Cox Media Group