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Council approves two full-time violence-intervention specialist positions for Pontiac Safe (GBI)
Summary
Council authorized creation of two grant-funded violence intervention specialist positions to support the Pontiac Safe (Group Violence Intervention) program and scheduled intensive training (GVI University) Feb. 18–20. Administration said ARPA funds will be used to support the positions through 2026.
Pontiac City Council on Feb. 4 adopted a resolution authorizing the mayor to create two full-time, grant-funded violence intervention specialist positions as part of a city-backed Group Violence Intervention (GVI) program dubbed Pontiac Safe. The council vote was unanimous.
Program background: The city launched a GVI-style initiative in late summer/early fall 2024. Project manager Coley Gracie outlined progress to date: compiling two years of violent-crime data with law enforcement, delivering community outreach, and arranging final, in-depth training (GVI University) Feb. 18–20. Gracie said the program aims to place “credible messengers” in the community — staff with trusted connections who can intervene to prevent retaliatory and group violence.
Why the positions: Gracie and administration staff told council part-time or volunteer models have not achieved the necessary outcome in comparable programs; paid, accountable specialists who can operate full time are central to the model’s success. The resolution authorizes hiring two specialists at pay grade M6 and specifies the positions are grant-funded and set to terminate on Dec. 31, 2026 unless otherwise extended. Administration said ARPA funds are the anticipated funding source under a memorandum of understanding for public-safety-related ARPA spending; legal and external-auditor guidance (Ernst & Young) was referenced as confirming permissibility.
Council discussion and next steps: Council members asked whether hires could be in place for the February GVI University training; administration and Gracie said they would attempt to hire quickly and could rely on training slots or contractor expertise if necessary. Council unanimously approved the resolution. Follow-up actions include a forthcoming budget amendment to place the personnel lines into the operating budget and recruitment/hiring steps consistent with city procedures.
Ending: Supporters said the paid specialist roles are necessary to provide sustained outreach, credible mediation and follow-up in neighborhoods experiencing group violence; opponents raised no substantive recorded objections during final adoption but council asked for documentation from funding advisers (Ernst & Young) regarding ARPA eligibility and noted a desire for prompt reporting on early outcomes.
