Mayor Lenny Curry announced a new initiative to combat crime in Jacksonville Sunday afternoon.
The initiative outlined current and future plans to help solve crimes in real time.
One of those tools is the Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) which just opened in the downtown area. The CGIC is an interagency collaboration that uses multiple resources to solve gun crimes.
Curry also mentioned implementing the Cure Violence program.
Cure Violence is a Chicago-based crime-fighting program that claims its model of "treating violent crime like a disease" will reduce shootings and murders in Jacksonville.
Councilman Garrett Dennis has his doubts about the Cure Violence program.
"I don't think it'll work," he told First Coast News. "Chicago is totally different from Jacksonville."
The program trains local leaders to intervene with people at risk of committing a violent crime. The program also counsels victims and their families to prevent retaliation killings, according to program leaders.
Dennis says he'd rather see an investment in existing community outreach groups, ones that have deep connections in chronic areas but need a boost to reduce crime.
"We have all the tools that we need to be successful," Dennis said. "And I don't think spending more money for an outside group to come in to solve our issues will work."
Below is the full message from Curry.