KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A local organization is fighting crime, without a gun or bulletproof vest and group members say it may be the best crime-fighting measure yet.
James Arnold is the man guaranteeing work for the men that complete the AdHoc Group Against Crime training course. Ryan Stevens is one of the men looking to complete the program and find work.
“What was I doing before the program? Drugs, stealing, anything under the sun, for real. Just to get by for real," said Stevens.
Arnold knows a lot of the men in the program deserve a second chance, and he’s helping from the ground up. He runs a tile work and flooring company that has been in the business for 30 years.
"I have done work in China, in Hawaii," said Arnold.
Arnold said there’s good money to be made, now he’s got to find good people. Some of the projects his team works on include City Hall in Kansas City, Missouri. They’re also placing a bid to do flooring and other projects at the new Kansas City Airport.
"If we can take people potentially bound to go to jail at some time or another, then we turn them into taxpaying people," said Arnold. "It’s a win-win for the community."
A few weeks into the program and 41 Action News checked back in with the class. On this day, they’re learning math. Participant Danny Almaguer calls the course life changing.
“They’re giving you a lot more than just a job, they’re giving you things you can use in life,” said Almaguer.
And giving life new purpose for generations to follow. Because as Damon Daniel with Ad Hoc often says "nothing stops a bullet like a job."
“That’s the impact we’re trying to have," said Daniel. "Those are the outcomes right there.”
