A coalition of Chicago faith leaders and activists called on city officials Monday to establish a new Department of Gun Violence Prevention at City Hall, proposing it replace the current Office of Community Safety. The group urged Mayor Brandon Johnson and the City Council to create a permanent, more independent entity focused exclusively on reducing gun violence, with a community advisory board playing a key role in selecting the department’s leader.

The coalition argued that housing gun violence prevention within a standalone department would safeguard resources and policies such as funding for violence interrupters from political shifts tied to mayoral administrations. Unlike the current office, which is overseen by a mayor-appointed deputy mayor and subject to direct mayoral control, the new department’s head would be chosen by an advisory commission comprised of members selected by the mayor. The mayor would select from three finalists presented by the commission and could only remove the commissioner “for cause.” The proposal reflects widespread frustration following Johnson’s dismissal earlier this year of Garien Gatewood, who previously led the city’s violence reduction efforts.

Mayor Johnson expressed support for the initiative, as leaders seek an estimated $100 million annual budget for the department. The coalition plans to present an ordinance to the City Council in July with the goal of including it in fall budget negotiations. The ordinance envisions creating at least 20 positions within the new department, alongside establishing a 16-member advisory commission that would include faith leaders.

“This is about embedding peace as policy and infrastructure, making it permanent beyond any single administration,” said the Rev. Beth Brown of Lincoln Park Presbyterian Church, emphasizing gun violence as a systemic public health crisis requiring sustained coordination and investment.

The call to action follows a recent three-day period that saw 39 shootings across Chicago, six of them fatal, according to police statistics. While shootings and homicides have declined significantly compared to previous years, violence remains a pressing issue in the city. Johnson credited the Office of Community Safety, created on his first day in office, with contributing to a historic drop in homicides—from 587 in 2024 to 416 in 2025—and with managing other safety challenges such as large youth gatherings fueled by social media.

However, Rev. Ciera Bates-Chamberlain, executive director of faith-based group Live Free Illinois, which organized the event, criticized the current office for being overly broad and insufficiently stable to address gun violence effectively. She said the coalition is collaborating with Johnson’s administration on an executive order to facilitate the department’s creation.

The push for the new department gained momentum after Gatewood’s abrupt firing, which sparked controversy. While Gatewood and his supporters claimed the dismissal was retaliation linked to ethics complaints against the administration, city officials stated the mayor sought a different direction.

Johnson’s deputy mayor for community safety, Emanuel Andre, described the proposal as a step toward stabilizing violence prevention efforts long term, reducing vulnerability to political changes. The coalition intends the department’s budget to be “budget neutral” by consolidating funds already allocated across various city departments.

The discussion around gun violence prevention emerged amid renewed national attention on Chicago’s crime rates. Former President Donald Trump, in a social media post over the weekend, suggested federal intervention to reduce violence, claiming he could make the city “one of the safest” in a short time. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker dismissed Trump’s remarks as lacking understanding of the state’s safety challenges and highlighted ongoing cooperation with federal agencies like the FBI to combat gun crime. Rev. Michael Pfleger, a longtime anti-violence advocate from St. Sabina Church, urged Trump to restore federal funding cut during his administration rather than issue empty promises.