MEMPHIS, Tenn. — People who live in the Riverside area said they now feel safe in their homes because of the first ever gang injunction issued a few years ago.
The District Attorney’s office declared that area a public nuisance. This got the attention of officials all the way in Long Beach, California.
Now they want to learn how police and people in the community were able to keep gang members out their neighborhoods.
“This gang injunction, Hallelujah for it. The best thing that ever happened to Riverside,” said Susie Williams.
Williams has lived in the Riverside neighborhood for more than 20 years.
She remembered when she was afraid to leave her home and had to sleep on the floor to dodge bullets because gang members had taken over her neighborhood.
It got so bad that the District Attorney`s Office sought a first of its kind injunction in 2013 banning gang members from even talking to each other in public.
“What I find is the community is the difference. We`ve done three different injunctions. This was the first one, the Riverside Rolling 90`s Crips,” said Susie Williams.
It’s worked so well a group from Long Beach, California came to learn about it. They met with local law enforcement and neighbors in the Riverside area.
“Specifically we wanted to look at a city that had dealt with gang problems the way we have here in Southern California,” said Doug Haubert, the city prosecutor in Long Beach.
Pastor James Kendrick of Oak Grove Missionary Baptist Church said it also took a community effort.
“We went out and we just approached them individually. All of us started talking and witnessing and tried to witness in every way we could and we had an impact,” he said.
Those who were there from California said they learned the best way to address the gang problem was to go out and develop relationships with people in their community.
“I think one of the most effective things that you did here in Memphis is that you reached out to the community before you went to court,” Haubert explained.
“It has had an amazing change. My kids can walk down the street. My grandkids can ride their bikes. We don`t see bullets flying anymore,” Williams said.
Williams said on October 19, a meeting will be held at Riverview Community Center at 5:30.
She said that area received a grant for $29,000. They’ll discuss how that money will be used.
