KALAMAZOO, MI (WKZO AM/FM) – Local leaders ponied up $3-million during the COVID-19 pandemic to tackle a frightening spike in gun violence that pushed Kalamazoo’s murder rate to an all-time high in 2023. They have publicly wondered if it worked, and now have an answer.
The funding resulted in The Blueprint for Peace, a plan to get all the different groups involved in reducing gun crimes working together.
Dr. Kenlana Ferguson gave a formal presentation to the county board, saying it’s still a work in progress. However, the numbers seem to suggest it is working at least in the city of Kalamazoo, where most of the efforts have been focused.
From 22 killings in 2023, the murder rate dropped to 10 the next year, and 7 last year.
She says violent crime is now at a 10-year low in Kalamazoo.
Dr. Ferguson says one of their most successful efforts has been to take the street smart mediators that have been employed to target youth violence by the Kalamazoo Department of Public Safety for years, and train and certify more of them at Kalamazoo Valley Community College.
They are called Community Violence Interventionists.
But to get at some of the deeply rooted causes of gun violence, they will also have to address issues like inequity, inadequate housing, poverty and childcare.
Dr. Ferguson says it will be a while before they know if those efforts are working.
She says they are now pivoting to address domestic violence, following a new YWCA report showing a dramatic hike in those life-threatening behaviors in Kalamazoo.
In the meantime, Dr. Ferguson says they continue to follow the blueprint, building out the infrastructure to eliminate the issues and problems that lead to violence, and working more with other police agencies in the county.
Kalamazoo County commissioners will be looking at long-term financing options for gun violence prevention at their next meeting.
County Administrator Kevin Catlin says they have three different options they will present to the board.
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