'Operation Ceasefire' kicked off to curb rash of shootings

Monday, June 9th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Fighting back against gun violence in Tulsa. In light of a recent string of shootings and murders, prosecutors, pastors and police officers got together Monday to say enough is enough.

News on 6 anchor Terry Hood says the plan is called â€˜Operation Ceasefire.â€™ And for this operation to succeed, the whole community has to respond.

People in all parts of Tulsa are sick of gang violence, shootings and murders. The problem is what to do about it.

'Operation Ceasefire' works in two ways. First, police officers and prosecutors will work to get guns and the bad guys off the streets. Second, pastors will work to intervene with high-risk kids to stop violence before it starts.

To show they are in this fight together, pastors sat side by side with prosecutors at the Friendship Baptist Church at 1709 North Madison, to show their joint commitment to fighting gun violence.

The group plans to meet each month to share information. Their shared message Monday: change your lifestyle or suffer the consequences. Tim Harris, Tulsa County DA: "we will prosecute you. We will use our experience our education and our training to send you to the penitentiary."

Rev. Weldon Tisdale: "So our call and our plea is to you say stop the violence. Let us come together and reason amongst one another. Come and turn your life over.â€

Tulsa pastors are modeling a similar crime prevention program already in place in Muskogee.