Violence intervention programs have increasingly been looked at as a way to reduce violent crime in cities.

In Newark, an office was created as part of Mayor Ras Baraka, as Administré, often called the Newark Office of Violence Prevention and Trauma Recovery.

Now, through that effort, trained members respond to shootings situations working to de-escalate the responses of those involved and limit any further violent activity.

It's an effort that's been lauded nationally.

But not everyone is happy with how it's playing out.

Members of the Newark Police Union say some of these responders are actually intervening and even obstructing law enforcement from doing their job.

Raven Santana spoke to union leaders and the mayor to hear their take on the matter.

It has work.

It's very clear.

We have, you know, have this lowest number of homicides in the city that we've had in about 60 years.

And if we continue to go the way we're going, this year will be even lower.

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka says the numbers don't lie when speaking about the success of the Newark Office of Violence Prevention Trauma Recovery, also known as OVP.

TR The organization, which was created in 2020, has received a national acclaim for improving the quality of life of residents and addressing the underlying causes of violence throughout the city.

We've been recognized by President Obama in My Brother's Keeper, the President of the United States.

Now Biden created the Office of Vision.

Backlash from the president of the Fraternal Order of Police Union in Newark.

Detective Jeffrey Webber.

Webber sat down with me alongside the attorney and general counsel for the city's FOP, Patrick Tusken, to further discuss a letter sent on July 2nd.

In it, Webber asks local and state officials to investigate the mayor's anti-crime organization, claiming the group has repeatedly interfered with police crime scenes.

We have endless amounts of body cam footage showing OVP members and city officials interfering with crime scenes, literally getting while the officers asking them to step out of the crime scene.

While I'm on the phone with the mayor.

Whoever's letter stems from a June 25th incident where he says police arrested one of the OVP TR members that was involved in a shooting near the Newark Police Academy.

He says several other OVP TR members purposely obstructed law enforcement as they attempted to arrest the suspect.

Many situations where a crime scene that's roped off, people disregarding that, being told you have to step aside, refuse to do it, this.

Isn't something that you want to get behind.

Closed doors and talk about.

This is something where the public has the right to know, just like when a law enforcement officer shoots his or her firearm.

Right.

Immediately, hours later, Right.

It's broadcast for over the place of the body worn camera footage.

It's the same thing on this end.

Mayor Baraka says the incident was more of a miscommunication and says the FOP letter reflects an old us versus them way of thinking, which he says Newark will never return to.

And I think the the the president be is dead wrong.

And I think that the sentiment that he's using to express this to me is a symbol of division.

Again, I'm going to repeat it over and over.

I don't want to dismantle of OVP.

Most of them do commendable work, outstanding work.

Advocates and Mayor Baraka, stand by the fact that members are trained and vetted but admit that there is room for improvement, Which is why he says he plans to have a meeting of the minds.

There is a need for improving.

There's there is a conversation for improving the protocols and improving the relationship.

So there is clear recognition as to who each other.

Is already what we've done, even because it is we're creating a opportunity for some of the police brass and some of the regular police officers to get together with folks, some of the violence prevention and break city to begin to discuss it together.

My thing is what police department members, they're going to handpick the ones that they want and everyone's going to sit there and Kumbaya and not discuss the facts of what's going on.

I'd be surprised.

I didn't get an invite.

You know, I would love to, again, meet with these people again.

I'm not looking for conflict.

I'm not looking for arguments.

Not looking to embarrass anyone.

I'm looking for resolution.

Whoever says if he does not receive an invite, he now wants to spearhead his own meeting with the mayor, members of OPTR and officers.

For NJ Spotlight News, I'm Raven Santana.