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Pastors and Police fighting crime

Posted at 7:16 PM, Feb 10, 2016
and last updated 2016-02-10 20:46:39-05

FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Fort Myers City Manager envisions men of God on the fronts lines helping to fight crime in the city.

The newly appointed city manager has been reaching out to pastors, wanting to know if they will playa role in a "clergy response team."

That would include showing up at crime scenes to assist police and build trust within the community.

The goal is to have more eye witnesses speak up when they see something happening.

Pastor James Bing with Friendship Baptist Church says he likes the idea because what were doing now isn't working.

"If you keep doing the same thing the same way, you get the same result...we have to approach it differently," says Bing.

Kazeemi says he's grateful for the support of the ministers and is encouraged that interim police chief Dennis Eads is open to the innovative approach.

He says hopes to get the project going as soon as possible.

"We have a long way to go and we are going to do this together with the community," says Kazemi.