Anti-Violent Crime Initiative Project Eject launches in Gulfport

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Mississippi announced a new collaboration with the City of Gulfport today to combat and deter violent crime.

Far - future.

- - the u.s. attorney for the - southern district of- mississippi announced a new - collaboration with the city of- gulfport today to combat and- deter violent crime.- news 25's grant chighizola has- more on project eject and it's- potential impact.

- - local and federal law - enforcement leaders are teaming- up to 'eject' violent - crime from the streets of - gulfport.

- sot-mike hurst: us attorney - "this is a commitment from me a us attorney and the us- attorney's office to the- gulfport police department and- others that we are going to do- everything- within our power to make this - city and harrison county better- than we found it."

Gulfport is one of the latest - cities in the state to roll out- project eject, a program first- introduced to mississippi in- 2017- when it was implemented in- jackson.- the project relies on four- components- prosecution,- prevention, reentry, and- awareness to combat violent - crimes in the community.- sot-mike hurst- "we see the expansion of projec eject into gulfport as simply a- force - multiplier, reinforcements if - you will, bringing more - collaboration,- additional prosecutors, and - different approaches to tacklin- violent crime and - making all citizens safer.- - - - sot-chris ryle: gulfport chief- of police - "just putting our violent offenders on notice, we're- coming after you.

Enough is - enough and we're tired of it."

- - - while crime fighting is a major- component of- the project, preventing violenc- will be just as - important.- standup - - - - "project eject will also includ a variety of community outreach- programs- designed to encourage children- to make good choices in their - lives."

Sot-mike hurst- "it shows kids really the consequences of their actions,- the consequences of just- going along with the crowd, the- consequences using a gun in - violence or - - - - even dealing drugs."

With two federal prosecutors no- in place to - tackle crime in gulfport with - the rest of the task force, - - - - local leaders are looking ahead- to the future with- optimism.

- sot-mayor billy hewes, gulfport- "as good as we are, we recogniz that there's always room for- improvement,- room for new ideas and new- approaches to different - situations."

In gulfport, grant chighizola,- news 25.-