Mayor Kevin Johnson says the area received a quarter of grants available in California because the city and county are now working so well with community groups. He says there is now a pronounced effort to be proactive and positive, especially with kids.
JOHNSON: "Go up and knock on doors and introduce yourself to neighbors. If there's a boys and girls club go volunteer and hang out.. Let the interaction with young people not be one of necessity where it's something negative."
At a press event at a south Sacramento Boys and Girls Club, Johnson and officers pointed to the Twin Rivers Police Department as an example of how not to interact with the community.
JOHNSON: "We all saw what happened at Twin Rivers, right? No one feels good about that. So, there's been a huge sense of awareness. We're not going to let those things happen in other cities or communities around Sacramento."
Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) handed out $71 million in grants statewide.