What motivates the peacekeepers of the Office for the Prevention of Violence in Stockton

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At the upper level of Stockton City Hall, officers from the Office for the Prevention of Violence are waiting for the phone to ring. “We should get a call within the next second to 20 minutes,” said peacekeeper Drew Lucer. city on Tuesday afternoon. Employees waited for a message to come out. Lucer said it is important to be able to respond to the hospital within 30 minutes of any shooting. “I think every time the Office for the Prevention of Violence along with its partners responds to a community after a shooting or murder, it lets the community know that we see them,” said Officer Director Laura Larson. in the office to do every day. They are working to prevent the next shooting by focusing on gang members. “We are talking about what is going on in their lives and offering them the opportunity to make different choices,” Larson said. Part of this links gang members with education, mental health services and housing support. Larson said it also involves offering them a life coach. Natalia Hurtado is a peacemaker from the city who started working in the office in December. Her job includes advocating for youth to help them get rid of violence. Motivation is there for peacekeepers who are also members of the community, most of whom grew up in an environment of violence. “You see something, and that’s okay,” Urtada said. “I know it sounds really bad, but growing up in Stockton, you feel immune to it.” Peacekeeping is personal to many involved, including Lucer, who had a brother who served 18 years in prison on a gun charge. He also lost friends and family as a result of gun violence. Lucerne thinks of her teenage children every time she hears about pointless shooting. ”It’s actually one of my biggest fears when I’m called and I’m at work – if it’s going to be one of my family members or my kids because these the bullets have no names, ”Lucer said.

STOCKTON, CA –

At the upper level of Stockton City Hall, officers from the Office for the Prevention of Violence are waiting for a phone call.

“We should get a call within the next second to 20 minutes,” said peacekeeper Drew Lucer.

A shooting took place in the city on Tuesday afternoon. Employees waited for a message to come out. Lucer said it is important to be able to respond to the hospital within 30 minutes of any shooting.

“I think every time the Office for the Prevention of Violence along with its partners responds to a community after a shooting or murder, it lets the community know that we see them,” said Officer Director Laura Larson.

This is what peacekeepers in the office do every day. They work to prevent the next shooting by focusing on gang members.

“We talk about what’s going on in their lives and offer them the opportunity to make different choices,” Larson said.

Part of this links gang members to education, mental health services and housing support. Larson said it also involves offering them a life coach.

Natalia Hurtado is a peacemaker with the city who started working in the office in December. Her job includes advocating for youth to help them get rid of violence.

Motivation is there for peacekeepers who are also members of the community, most of whom grew up in an environment of violence.

“You see something, and that’s okay,” Urtada said. “I know it sounds really bad, but growing up in Stockton, you feel immune to it.”

Keeping the peace is personal to many who do so, including Lucer, who had a brother who served 18 years in prison on a gun charge. He also lost friends and family as a result of gun violence.

Lucerne, every time he hears about pointless shooting, thinks of his teenage children.

“In fact, it’s one of my biggest fears when I’m called and I’m at work – if it’s one of my family members or my kids, because these bullets don’t have names,” Lucerre said.

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