SAN JOSE (KCBS) — San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, along with other city and county officials testified before the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention in Washington D.C. Monday.

San Jose’s method of gang prevention is getting national attention as it is a model city selected by the Department of Justice to demonstrate how the mayor’s gang prevention task force is working to bring down violence.

KCBS’ Mike Colgan Reports:

It’s an effort that was initiated by Reed’s predecessor, former Mayor Susan Hammer. Reed added that San Jose is a national model in prevention, intervention and suppression and that their police department has worked diligently with other departments as well.

San Jose Police Spokesman Jose Garcia said a metro unit has been tasked with keeping gangs in check.

“We really focus on gangs because they do take up a lot of the policing resources,” Garcia said, complimenting how the units are targeting gang activity.

Two of the city’s six homicides this year have been found to be gang-related.

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