Florida Attorney General McCollum to Host Gang Reduction Strategy Summit

Exchange of information from around the state is the next step in strategy development

December 18, 2007 -- TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum will bring together statewide policymakers and stakeholders for a two-day Gang Reduction Strategy Summit in Tallahassee beginning tomorrow, December 19, 2007. Designed to obtain input from stakeholders and other interested parties across the state, the summit is the next step in developing a Statewide Gang Reduction Strategy.

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“Gang activity and violence is escalating in Florida and each area of our state is impacted in different ways. The goal of the summit is to bring together community leaders from around the state to share their experiences with gang related problems. This exchange of information will ultimately set the foundation for our Statewide Gang Reduction Strategy,” said Attorney General McCollum.

Attorney General McCollum will open the summit in the morning at 10:00 a.m. Remarks will also be given by members of his Statewide Gang Reduction Strategy Executive Group including FDLE Commissioner Gerald Bailey, Education Commissioner Eric Smith, Secretary James McDonough, Department of Corrections, Assistant Secretary Ken Pifer, Department of Juvenile Justice, Colonel Bill Janes, Office of Drug Control, Colonel John Czernis, Florida Highway Patrol, Sheriff Joey Dobson, Sheriff Larry Campbell and State Attorney Willie Meggs.

“Nearly 16 years ago, I was involved in the call of a Statewide Grand Jury to assess the prevalence of gang activity and develop strategies to assist members of law enforcement in their fight against this deadly and destructive criminal activity,” said former Florida Attorney General Bob Butterworth. “I am proud to partner with Attorney General Bill McCollum in his efforts to take up that call and find effective ways to ultimately eradicate the influence of gangs in Florida.”

The effort to develop a Statewide Gang Reduction Strategy is also supported by the membership of the Florida Police Chiefs Association.

“We applaud the Attorney General for recognizing the serious threat that gang related criminal activity poses to our state and its citizens, and his efforts to address and find a working solution to this problem,” said Chief H.C. “Skip” Clark II, President of the Florida Police Chiefs Association. “We appreciate the Attorney General for holding this summit to afford local law enforcement the opportunity to provide input on how to address this serious threat to our communities.”

Source: Florida Attorney General