Story thread · 2 reports / 2 sources

Florida violence prevention program's 'neighborhood change agent' faces 560 years in prison

theblaze.com · 13d · first reportShare

A gun violence prevention program in Orlando, Florida, that received $1.5 million of federal funding abruptly closed down on Thursday after several controversies, including the arrest of a "neighborhood change agent." Operation New Hope CEO and President Reggie Fullwood said in a message to the group's community partners that it had "suspended" operations and terminated all "neighborhood change agents," as well as peacekeepers, mental health therapists, and job coaches. Prosecutors said the leaks resulted in lost evidence, unrecovered assets, and at least one suspect fleeing arrest. A source told WESH-TV that the situation was discussed on Friday at the Orlando City Hall. "Since assuming responsibility for the contract in January, we have encountered numerous employee arrests, significant breaches of trust, and a lack of accountability that have compromised the integrity and effectiveness of the program," Fullwood said. He confirmed to WESH that a former state juvenile justice probatio