JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Reconnect and rid the community of gang violence was the mission and message at a community meeting between residents in Grand Park and the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office on Tuesday.
Dozens of people packed St. Paul Church of Jacksonville on the Northside to discuss the ongoing problems with violence in the area.
The Sheriff's Office led a part of the discussion, talking to parents about the signs that point to gang involvement or groups with gang tendencies.
The mother of 16-year-old Devron Crowden attended the meeting. The Raines High School student was gunned down at a bus stop last week, and she said her grief is still very raw and she didn't want to speak.
But organizers said her presence made a lasting impact on the crowd.
"She said something to me that I want to say to you. She said to me, 'Pastor, enough is enough. We've got to turn this around,'" Pastor John Guns said. "And when a mother in grief declares we are going to turn it around, we're going to help her turn it."
Police told the crowd that starts with teaching children accountability and that they should have a healthy respect for authority. They argued that if parents can tackle those two things, a large percentage of the crime problem could be eliminated.
"That means we have to teach. And that doesn't just mean kids. That means race to race, gender to gender. We need to hold everyone accountable for their conduct, their behavior and their attitude," said JSO Sgt. K.T. Anderson. "Whether it's a white police officer, black police officer, white young man, a black young man, etc. We all have to be held accountable."
Guns said he appreciated the spirit of Anderson's message.
"His message was a balanced message that on the one end, police have a responsibility to be sensitive to the young people, to the community," Guns said. "But to the young people -- to us, to our families, our young men and women have a responsibility to be respectful to the police and manage these moments with great integrity and great accountability."
Guns said another meeting is being organized for Jan. 17 that focuses on fathers and sons. He said outreach will also continue at Ribault and Raines high schools.