Gilbert, Ariz. – In response to the recent increase in teen violence in Gilbert, Arizona, particularly the tragic murder of Preston Lord on October 28 in Queen Creek, the Gilbert Town Council formed a Subcommittee on Teen Violence in January 2024. The subcommittee aimed to bring forth actionable solutions to the pressing issue of teen violence in the community. On Tuesday, April 16, the subcommittee presented its recommendations during the Council’s regularly scheduled public meeting.
The subcommittee’s recommendations were divided into three categories: resources, possible legislation/ordinances, and existing programs. Members urged the Council to refer the recommendations to Gilbert’s Community Engagement Task Force for review, subject to Council’s approval, to develop a scope of work addressing the issue.
Key recommendations from the subcommittee included increasing the number of school resource officers, supporting the Gilbert Police Department’s hiring of a community youth engagement officer, creating legislation prohibiting juveniles from purchasing brass knuckles, and addressing parental responsibility. Additionally, they proposed establishing a website dedicated to teen resources.
The Town Council instructed town staff to research and report on other community ordinances related to brass knuckle bans and parenting responsibility to guide Gilbert in forming its own ordinances. A study session on these topics is expected in May.
Councilmembers also expressed interest in strengthening partnerships with local school districts and supported the hiring of a community youth engagement officer within the Gilbert Police Department.
The subcommittee’s remaining recommendations will now be reviewed by Gilbert’s Community Engagement Task Force. The task force serves as a platform for discussing and addressing social welfare and community concerns. Teen violence will be its next focus area.
The Council expanded the task force’s membership to include 11 members and three alternates, including at least four teenagers who are current high school students and Gilbert residents attending schools within the town’s boundaries. Recruitment for task force members will begin soon, with the task force expected to hold its first meeting in June. Monthly reports on the task force’s progress will be provided from September to November 2024, with a final report anticipated in December.
The Gilbert Town Council’s formation of the Subcommittee on Teen Violence on January 9, 2024, represented a proactive step toward addressing the growing issue of teen violence. Vice Mayor Scott Anderson and Councilmembers Chuck Bongiovanni and Jim Torgeson were appointed as members of the subcommittee, holding public meetings and providing regular updates to the Council.
