Hawai‘i will improve its preventative measures against targeted violence with an $803,330 grant from the federal government. The Hawai‘i Department of Law Enforcement Office of Homeland Security received the Targeted Violence and Terrorism Prevention grant from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, as reported on Tuesday. OHS Administrator Frank Pace stated that the grant reflects DHS's commitment to helping protect communities from rising threats of targeted violence.
According to the Office of the Governor, targeted violence involves premeditated acts where individuals, groups, or locations are chosen for harm based on various grievances. The grant funds are expected to significantly expand training opportunities for nonprofits, educational institutions, and government agencies across the state. Additionally, the funds will help Guam develop its own prevention initiatives. "The Office of Homeland Security is focused on protecting people by providing the resources they need to identify, assist and most importantly, stop those on a pathway to violence. We can’t just react to targeted violence. We must, as a community, recognize the potential for violence and prevent tragedies before they occur" Pace explained.
Growing concerns over violence spurred by religious ideologies, political beliefs, conspiracy theories, and other social issues have prompted the necessity for such funding. The Department of Law Enforcement’s Director, Jordan Lowe, said, "The Department of Law Enforcement is committed to using all resources at its disposal to protect our residents through effective enforcement and by working with our communities to implement violence prevention strategies," in a release from the Office of the Governor.
For those interested in further details or wishing to join the effort to prevent violence in Hawai‘i, the statewide Targeted Violence Prevention Strategy and Implementation Plan is available for review, and potential partners are encouraged to reach out via email at [email protected] or by visiting the OHS website. Information about current initiatives and how to become involved in these preventive measures can be found by exploring the provided resources.
