STOP the Violence
News & Updates
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The City of Pittsburgh STOP the Violence Office exists to change the community narrative about violence and stop the spread of the disease of violence in the City. While we are concerned as well with the surrounding areas and will share solutions and events in those areas, we only have jurisdiction in the City. We would be pleased to share our knowledge and strategies with any jurisdiction outside of the City.
Table of Contents
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Are You Aware: Suicide, Homicide and Mental Health
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Solutions: Student Police Academy Fall 2021
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Activity Report: Peace In The Streets Essay Contest
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Something You Can Do: Join the STOP the Violence Prayer Team
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Training: Group Violence Intervention; NEW-Gun Violence and Public Health Webinar Series; Conflict Resolution Training
- Facts and Stats
- Tips for You
- Coming Events
- Community Resources
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STOP The Violence Newsletter
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Are You Aware:
September is National Suicide Prevention Month
Suicide, Homicide and Mental Health:
Are you modeling good self-care?
True or false:
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1. There are usually more homicides than suicides in Allegheny County, in Pennsylvania and in the United States--FALSE.
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2. If you ask a person about their suicidal intentions, you’ll encourage the person to kill himself--FALSE.
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3. Mental health professionals are the only people who can really help a person in crisis--FALSE.
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4. Depression and feelings of helplessness and hopelessness are not important factors associated with suicide--FALSE.
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5. I can’t do anything to help a person who is feeling helpless and hopeless--FALSE.
A few facts from 2019. Allegheny County had 87 homicides and 185 suicides, 70% of homicide victims were black men and 70% of suicide victims were white men. PA had 669 homicides and 1,896 suicides. Nationwide, 12 million adults seriously thought about suicide, 3.5 million planned a suicide attempt, 1.4 million attempted suicide and 47,511 people died. Unfortunately, 2019 was a typical year. (Statistics from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.)
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Why? According to Dr. Sheila Roth, LCSW, “life in general can be both exciting and challenging. It’s not uncommon for individuals to experience feelings of anxiety, depression, or other behavioral health conditions in life. Obviously, the impact of stress, traumatic events, and cumulative loss in one’s life can have great impact and can even leave individuals and communities feeling isolated and hopeless at times. It can take a toll.”
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Dr. Sheila Roth, LCSW
Department of Public Safety
Continuum of Support Manager
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Dr. Staci Ford adds that “men don’t think they can express emotion until it explodes and expresses itself as anger at yourself or someone else. Everyone goes through stressful situations, but most of us don’t know how to deal with the stress or trauma.” |
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What to do? First, take care of yourself. According to Dr. Ford, we must “accept that trauma is normal. Good things can come out of trauma. It’s just a stepping stone to personal growth. You have some stuff in your life that you have to deal with – life changes, relationships ending, natural deaths, violence. Are you staying stuck in your trauma or have you received help? Every person has gone through some sort of trauma and needs some sort of help.”
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Dr. Staci Ford
Trauma Therapist and Neighborhood Resilience Project Trauma Response Team School Coordinator
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Dr. Roth asks: “Do you have a self-care plan for your own well-being? Do you recognize when you feel signs of increased stress? Do you take some time to do things that you enjoy? Do you talk to a trusted person about your reaction to situations? Do you know of and use the resources available to you? Would you consider talking to a therapist who is ‘trauma aware’? Once you have the tools to care for yourself and use your own self-care plan, consider how you can help a friend to develop one.”
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Second, know how to start a conversation with someone that you are concerned about. You can help even if you’re not a mental health professional. Dr. Roth says, “this might take some advance thought and planning. You might need to involve another person in the conversation because of their relationship with your friend, or their role in the community. You might start the conversation simply by saying, “I’ve noticed that you seem to be more quiet than usual, is everything okay?” or “do you have a few minutes to talk? I know that you’ve been going through a lot lately and I am worried about you, I want to help.” Or, “I find it helps me when I have things on my mind to talk to someone who gets it.” Your friend may say, “mind your own business” or may say, “thanks I would like that.” Either way, this person knows that someone cares.”
“If you are concerned that your friend is suicidal, don’t be the only person helping and do not leave your friend alone. Ask the question: “Are you planning to end your life? Or are planning to commit suicide?” Asking the question will not make the act happen. It may be that your friend is on a continuum of suicidal thoughts. Get your friend the help that is needed right now and support them through this difficult time.
Dr. Ford adds that “behaviors are observed and imitated. By demonstrating through your acts and explanations that you are taking care of yourself, you will be showing others how to do the same thing”
Finally, know where to go for help. Here are a few resources:
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911 if the situation is an emergency
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1-800-273-8255 for the National Suicide Prevention’s 24 hour Helpline
or text TALK to 741741
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1-888-796-8226 for RESOLVE Crisis Center - 24 hours
- City of Pittsburgh Dept. of Public Safety’s Victims of Crime Office -
412-707-2988
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Alma Illery Medical Center’s Behavioral Health Services Office -
412-244-4700
- East Liberty Family Health Care Center’s Behavioral Health Office -
412-661-2802
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Dr. Staci Ford - 412-277-4616
- Your job’s employee assistance program, churches and religious organizations, counselors or Social Workers in schools or community health centers and doctor’s office.
Contact the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention for additional information and resources on suicide prevention. Their Area Director for Western Pennsylvania, Jesse Putkoski, can be reached at jputkoski@afsp.org or 412-510-9514.
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Do you think improving awareness of and access to self-care will help reduce violence?
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Solutions:
Student Police Academy - Fall 2021
Sign Up NOW!
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The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police sponsors an opportunity for High School students in the Pittsburgh community to become closely acquainted with the roles and responsibilities of the Police Bureau. The Pittsburgh Student Police Academy brings the police and Pittsburgh’s high school community closer together in a setting that offers a sample of police training to each participant. |
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Applications are being accepted for the fall session of the Student Police Academy (SPA) until Friday, October 1, 2021. The academy is open to all interested high school students in grades 9-12, whether they live inside or outside of the City of Pittsburgh.
Classes will be taught virtually from 6:00 to 8:00 pm starting Wednesday, October 6, 2021 at the Jewish Community Center in Squirrel Hill. The SPA meets weekly for 8 weeks. The academy exposes students to some of the experiences they might have just as if they were cadets training at the Pittsburgh Police Academy to be police officers.
According to John Tokarski, SaferTogether Coordinator and facilitator of the SPA: “a student who enrolls in our academy should expect to leave with at least three wonderful experiences!
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“First, students will better understand the breadth of education, understanding of policy and importance of relevant statues that factor in the various decisions that police officers must make on a daily basis...often within a split second. |
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“Second, teens will have a forum to meet and get to know police officers from our Police Bureau's various divisions (uniform, detectives, bomb squad, S.W.A.T., vice & narcotics, K-9, etc.) simply as human beings...and vice-versa!
“Finally, it will expose students to potential careers in criminal justice and/or as first responders. Those careers could be with the Pittsburgh Police, or in a county, state or federal law enforcement agency or any other of the many other areas of criminal justice, including forensic science, law, and others.”
The Application form and Permission Slip can be found HERE.
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The graduating class of the Summer 2021 Student Police Academy,
together with Chief Schubert and his team.
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Activity Report:
NOBLE “Peace In the Streets” Essay Contest
Getting the Youth Perspective
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"What will it take to bring peace to the streets?" was the topic of an essay contest for high school students in Allegheny County sponsored in August by the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE).
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Jaymir McBryde, a junior at Carrick High School, received the $500 first prize. He wrote: “If I was the Chief of Police, I will take the training serious and see people's personality and humor. I would see how they respect people. You must start to get to know people. Not every person is a bad person. Some people just have a lot of stuff going on in their life and a lot of stuff on their chest. Therefore, people protect their bubble from getting hurt. Everyone is going through something.”
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The second prize of $250.00 was awarded to Drew Hines, a senior at Shadyside Academy. He thought that: “If you want to create and maintain peace, you have to give kids hope and opportunity. They need a reason to walk away from the sources of fast money. As community leaders it's up to our local Police Chief to advocate for kids in our schools and neighborhoods. They should serve as a liaison to local government leaders and school officials. Having a strong Police Chief who refuses to arrest kids for minor offenses and who expects officers to be present in neighborhoods and to be a positive presence can help make a real difference. Police Chiefs can also help influence youth on advisory boards, including boards that review police activity. A dynamic Police Chief can make all the difference.”
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The $100.00 third prize winner was Elena Alarcon, a junior at Woodland Hills High School. She said: “you have to look at things in a civilian manner, host neighborhood block street parties for peace, first talk about the plan and what you are trying to accomplish, get to the adults so they can get to the kids, have food there. have some games, do some dances with the kids like tik toks. Have a talent show. You can get some advice from people even asking about what they do not like.”
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The essays were judged by a team led by Maurita Bryant, retired Assistant Chief of the Pittsburgh Police and Assistant Superintendent of the Allegheny County Police. She was assisted by community volunteers and NOBLE members, including Chapter President Lavonnie Bickerstaff, Assistant Chief of the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Ernest Withrow, retired Assistant Director for the Department of Corrections Community Bureau of Services and Sylvia Withrow, retired Deputy Superintendent/ Warden-Somerset State Correctional Facility.
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Maurita Bryant
Retired Assistant Chief of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police
and Retired Assistant Superintendant of Allegheny County Police
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Assistant Chief Lavonnie Bickerstaff
Pittsburgh Bureau of Police
and NOBLE Chapter President
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According to Chief Bickerstaff, "The value of this essay contest is getting youth involved with problem-solving and providing their perspective on what is needed to bring peace to the streets, which is our primary concern.”
For more information on the essay contest or NOBLE, please see the NOBLE website.
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Something You Can Do:
Join the STOP the Violence Prayer Team
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Stopping violence will take the efforts of the entire community. The ultimate objective of the City’s STOP the Violence office is to convert a culture of violence into a culture of non-violence. One component of this effort is the STOP the Violence Prayer Team.
“I believe that prayer changes things and the more people praying for the same things, the better,” said the Reverend Cornell Jones, formerly a chaplain at Western Penitentiary and now the City’s Group Violence Intervention Coordinator.
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By signing up for the non-denominational prayer team, you will receive periodic prayer request emails and notices about faith-based initiatives to prevent violence and increase peace in out community.
If you, your place of worship, your church, your pastor, spiritual leader or your friends would like to be part of this effort in any way, please let us know by sending an email HERE.
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Training:
Group Violence Intervention +
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Group Violence Intervention (GVI) is a strategy to reduce shootings and homicides in urban neighborhoods by using a three pronged strategy:
- law enforcement in partnership with the community,
- informed street outreach and social services to prevent violence, and
- involved community members reinforcing community norms rejecting violence.
For additional information on GVI, including its history and rationale, see this hour-long webinar from Mayors Against Illegal Guns entitled Re-imagining Public Safety: Group Violence Intervention and Intimate Partner Intervention: Webinar. The password is: MAIGUn1versity!
Pittsburgh’s Group Violence Intervention (GVI) violence prevention strategy was featured in the October STOP the Violence Newsletter which can be accessed HERE. The non-law enforcement elements of GVI are coordinated by Rev. Cornell Jones who can be contacted at cornell.jones@pittsburghpa.gov.
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Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Atlanta City Council President Felicia Moore and Seattle Council President Lorena Gonzalez headed the list of speakers in a ten hour webinar on August 18 and 19, 2021 organized by the Center on Media, Crime and Justice at John Jay College to help journalists and the public gain greater understanding on efforts to address the rising levels of gun violence in at-risk communities. |
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The series focused on prevention and intervention strategies. Leaders of community intervention strategies and programs in Chicago, Cleveland, Philadelphia and Sacramento discussed what is and isn’t working in their cities. Pittsburgh’s efforts compare quite favorably with these efforts.
The webinar consists of seven sessions, each lasting from 30 to 90 minutes. A table of contents is available so you can watch a particular session. Please take a look HERE.
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Conflict Resolution Training
If you would like more information on violence prevention and some suggestions on ways to be involved with anti-violence activities, please click on and watch the two-hour training video to the right. This training was conducted in January 2021.
Our outreach teams include violence interrupters, but there are lots of other roles to play. After viewing the training video, please let us know your thoughts and how you'd like to be involved!
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Facts & Stats:
Below are selected crime statistics from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. These statistics are from the period January 1 to August 31, 2021. These only cover the City, not any areas of Allegheny County which are outside of the City.
A few statistics of note from January to August 2021:
- There have been 43 homicides and 115 non-fatal shooting incidents this year.
- Homicides and non-fatal shooting incidents are both up 25% from 2020.
- 16 non-fatal shooting incidents is the same number as last year.
- 8 homicides in August was the second highest during a month this year.
- Homicides during the summer months (June to August) were 17 in 2020 and 16 in 20201 - down 6%.
- Non-fatal shooting incidents during the summer months (June to August) were 41 in 2020 and 55 in 20201 - up 25%.
- Zone 3 has had the most non-fatal shooting incidents this year (32) of any police zone.
The causes of shootings are many, so the solutions will vary. Using a public health approach means attempting to understand the proximate and secondary causes of violence and tailoring solutions to fit the impacted population. There is no one answer.
If you are interested in working to change these negative statistics, please click HERE to contact the STOP the Violence Office.
What will you do to help?
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City of Pittsburgh Police Zones |
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Tip for You:
Talk about taking care of yourself
In order to demonstrate effective self-care, let people know that your're participating in deliberate efforts to care for your mental health. Since these efforts aren't usually discussed, you might be the first person to show the importance of such efforts.
Efforts such a counseling, grief support groups, sharing groups, therapy, retreats, vacations, mental health days off, and similar activities should be as normal as going to the hospital for a physical issue or going to the gym to work your muscles and maintain your physical health.
Your example could save someone.
Domestic Violence Help:
Violence is not an acceptable method to resolve issues between friends or partners. If there are threats, please seek help!
When in danger, call 911 immediately.
Some other resources are in the Domestic Violence Resource Guide is reproduced below and can be accessed HERE.
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Do You Have Any Ideas?
The Stop the Violence Newsletter is produced monthly by Jay Gilmer, Coordinator of the STOP the Violence Office of the City of Pittsburgh Department of Public Safety.
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August Survey Responses
Survey #1:
Are you interested in learning more about the public health approach to violence prevention?
Survey #2:
Did you participate in National Night Out this year?
Survey #3:
Have you shared a STOP the Violence Newsletter with anyone?
Thank you for responding.
How will you help?
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Previous Newsletters
Click on the dates below to find past issues of the City of Pittsburgh STOP the Violence Newsletter:
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Coming Events
If you want to receive periodic event announcements or are aware of an anti-violence event that is open to the public, please click HERE to send us a notice or announcement. Thank you.
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Community Resources
If you are aware of an resource that can contribute to violence prevention or reducing the impact of violence, please click HERE to send us a notice or announcement. Thank you.
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1-412-330-4328
Offering world-renowned expertise in evaluating and treating children who have experienced traumatic life events or live with post-traumatic stress disorder. A program of Allegheny Health Network.
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Center for Victims
Hotline: 1-866-644-2882
Caring, professional staff is available 24 hours per day, seven days per week to respond to emergency needs of crime victims and witnesses, answer questions, and provide support. You can also call:
Valerie Dixon at the Center for Victims at 1-412-403-0194 or vdixon@venterforvictims.org.
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412-661-2802
Staff therapists and a chaplaincy department. Even if someone doesn’t have insurance, please come. Locations in East Liberty, the Hill District and Lincoln-Lemington.
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112 W. North Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15212
Offering a variety of programs to prevent incarceration, chaplaincy and pre-release to serve individuals in Allegheny County Jail and aftercare to prevent recidivism. For information on their support community for reentering citizens, their families and community members, send an email HERE.
Please call if you need help or want to help:
Adult or Youth Diversion: 412-321-3343
Allegheny County Jail Chaplaincy: 412-350-2057
Allegheny County Jail Pre-Release: 412-350-1322
Jail or Prison Aftercare: 412-321-3343
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GriefShare
Numerous Locations
in Allegheny County
GriefShare is for people grieving the death of a family member or friend. GriefShare groups meet weekly to help you face these challenges and move toward rebuilding your life. Each GriefShare session has three distinct elements: a video lesson, in-person group discussion, and personal reflection. Check the website for location information.
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Highmark Caring Place
620 Stanwix Street
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
888-224-4673
As a peer support program, the Caring Place provides an environment where children, teens and adults can receive support from others their own ages who are going through very similar experiences, such as the loss of a parent or other loved one.
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Jeremiah’s Place
6435 Frankstown Avenue
15206 (Larimer)
412-924-0726
Pittsburgh’s only crisis nursery. It provides emergency child care services for children ages 0-6 for a few hours or days based on the needs of each individual family. All services provided are free, available for 7 days a week, 24 hours a day.
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412-261-1234
The Trauma Response Team cares for the acute needs of family and friends of homicide victims of gun violence across all of Allegheny County.
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Which of these components of the STOP the Violence Newsletter are most interesting to you??
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