Partnership between Milwaukee and hospitals aims to prevent violence

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- Some say violence is a public health problem which is why some Milwaukee-area hospitals are getting involved in a new program. 

The new partnership between the city's Office of Violence Prevention and several local hospitals is called 414 Life. 

The key element is the use of people from the community, called "violence interrupters" to work the streets and try to stop problems before they start. 

It's modeled after a program in Chicago called "Cure Violence." 

"They're gonna be putting out fires that you don't even know of. They've already been putting out fires. And it's not something we invite the cameras every time they put out a fire, 'cause these are things that are done on the streets, behind closed doors," said Marcus McCallister. 

The hospitals will train the "violence interrupters" and provide support for families, friends, and survivors of violence.