Gresham launches Ceasefire partnership to address gun violence

An initiative to reduce gun violence

The City of Gresham has officially launched the Ceasefire partnership, an initiative designed to reduce gun violence through a coordinated, collaborative approach. This program unites community-based organizations (CBOs), city leadership, law enforcement, and public health experts to implement violence prevention strategies tailored to Gresham's needs. 

Ceasefire is rooted in a public health framework and seeks to address the root causes of violence by providing necessary resources including employment opportunities, conflict resolution, and behavioral health support.  

"This partnership demonstrates our unwavering commitment to addressing gun violence through collaboration and innovation," said Gresham Police Chief Travis Gullberg. "By working together, we can break cycles of violence and create a safer, more resilient Gresham for everyone." 

Collaborative partners 

Currently, under the East Multnomah Outreach Prevention Intervention (EMOPI) initiative, Gresham has intergovernmental agreements with 17 community-based organizations including Reynolds, Parkrose, Centennial and Gresham Barlow School Districts. Additionally, partnerships with Multnomah County Community Corrections, Multnomah County Sheriff's Office, and Portland Police Bureau have been established through Ceasefire creating a truly collaborative effort throughout East Multnomah County.  

This is the first time adjoining cities, Gresham and Portland, are participating in Ceasefire programs, which will amplify this work's regional impact. Notably, Gresham is the smallest city in the nation to implement a Ceasefire program.  

Early successes and goals  

While the Ceasefire partnership is in its early stages, the broader EMOPI initiative has already engaged more than 20,000 youth through intervention services, providing access to education, employment, mentorship, and prosocial interactions.  

This work is an addition to the work being done through Gresham's Youth Services, Recreation, the Police Department and violence prevention efforts within EMOPI. However, Ceasefire is hyper-focused on intensive case management for individuals assessed as the highest risk of gun violence. This specific focus is key to Ceasefire's success and is centered on a gun violence problem analysis that analyzes the last two years of police homicide and shooting data. This allows the Ceasefire program to follow the most accurate and up to date data around shootings and make referrals for those who are most impacted by them.