Gautier councilors, residents call for mentorship and community outreach after recent youth violence

Council members and a resident used the study-session portion of Gautier City Council's Oct. 20 meeting to respond to a spate of recent youth deaths and shootings, praising public safety personnel and calling for community-based mentorship and parental accountability.

Resident Charles Moore told the council "our police department is working hard and our police chief has a plan," and urged that the city "have a community meeting to try to, get a committee started to address and work on the issues." He also said parents should be held accountable and suggested increased police presence in affected areas.

Council members echoed those concerns. Councilman Alvin thanked city employees and first responders and urged residents to report suspicious activity. Councilman Fuller said the council and police "are not just sitting back" and pledged support for law enforcement. Councilwoman Jamieson said there have been "five deaths" she was aware of since Saturday and emphasized the need for mentors and activities for youth. Councilman Jackson urged leaders and residents to be "on the front line" alongside police, stressed the role of male mentors and role models and noted local successful figures as potential examples for youth.

Several council members proposed forming a community outreach or mentoring committee, holding meetings at the council chambers or the senior center, and seeking volunteers vetted by the council to lead programming. The council described this as a next step and said it would keep the public informed about meeting dates and opportunities for volunteers. No formal motion or ordinance to create a committee was recorded in the transcript.

Quotations used in this report are taken from the council meeting transcript.