The Public Safety Committee is scheduled to review a proposal authorizing the city manager to enter into a contract with Ricky Pickens Jr. to provide gang outreach and violence interruption services aimed at reducing violence and connecting at-risk individuals with support programs.
Under the proposal, the agreement would provide up to $440,201 annually for a term of five years, for a total contract amount not to exceed $2,201,005, according to the committee agenda.
City officials are also seeking authorization to increase General Fund appropriations by $120,000 for Fiscal Year 2026 to support the program.
Violence interruption programs typically rely on community-based outreach workers who intervene in conflicts before they escalate, connect individuals to social services and employment opportunities, and work with neighborhood partners to discourage retaliation and gang involvement.
The proposed agreement would formalize those efforts by providing dedicated outreach services focused on individuals most at risk of involvement in gang-related activity.
The item is listed as the first item of new business on the agenda for the committee’s special meeting scheduled for 5 p.m. Wednesday at Pasadena City Hall.
If the committee supports the proposal, the recommendation would move forward for consideration by the full Pasadena City Council at a future meeting.
The Public Safety Committee meeting will also include discussion of a state-mandated fire inspection compliance report and a presentation on automatic license plate recognition technology used by law enforcement.
Violence prevention and gang intervention programs have been a recurring focus of Pasadena’s public safety strategy in recent years as City officials and community organizations seek ways to reduce crime while strengthening connections between law enforcement and local neighborhoods.
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