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Kentucky residents ask Indy’s Ten Point for help

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WISH) – On Thursday afternoon representatives from Indy’s Ten Point Coalition huddled in a driveway on Indianapolis’ Northside and prayed. Once the prayer was over the group jumped into a black SUV and headed south.

They traveled 111 miles south to Louisville, Kentucky. The group of peacemakers were invited guests. Residents in Louisville have been brainstorming solutions in attempts to decrease an already deadly 2016.

In 2015, the City of Louisville recorded 81 homicides, so far this year the city has surpassed 2015 numbers and have accumulated 86 homicides.

“I think Ten Point can help,” said Dr. Vincent James, who invited Ten Point to Kentucky. James heard about how the Indy group has decreased crime in the Butler Tarkington area after a violent outbreak in murders last year.

Ten Point has patrolled Butler Tarkington and it’s been more than 300 days since there has been a murder in that community. The peacemakers have also made strides in the MLK and 29th area where crime has went down.

” I heard about the work and success they had as far as doing the street work and I wanted to investigate that,” said James.

Ten Point met with residents inside a church in Louisville’s historic Parkland neighborhood. During the meeting, Harrison and other Ten Point leaders shared the group’s successes, challenges and gave advice.

“I think it is a wonderful thing they are doing, and I appreciate them talking to us and trying to assist us in getting better,” said Louisville Resident Nita Gardner.

Harrison pushed for the residents to know their neighborhood like the peacemakers, troublemakers, the churches and police. He also stressed that the residents should have boots on the ground, or people who are willing to walk the streets and engage those that live in the neighborhood.

One man who sat in the pews and asked questions about Ten Point’s operations was Greg Wright, who felt empowered after sitting through the presentation.

“I think they were spot on, and they were right there when they said you have to have boots on the ground, and you have to interact with the people and get to know them,” said Wright.

After about an hour discussion, Ten Point walked the streets with Louisville residents and they appeared unflappable as they walked passed a crime scene.

“I think we were helpful tonight, you see the eagerness to address the violence in this community,”said Rev. Charles Harrison.

Ten Point gave those in attendance a paper with notes on how to carry out Ten Point’s plan. The Kentucky residents are not done, in October the group plans on traveling to Indianapolis to watch Ten Point patrol the streets of Indianapolis.