Board approves pilot funding to expand No Shots Fired violence-prevention program in Spring Valley

The San Diego County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously approved a pilot to expand the No Shots Fired community-violence-intervention program in Spring Valley, directing $250,000 in annual funding to Chafat Outreach and requiring regular reporting on the program’s progress.

Vice Chair Montgomery Stepp, who brought the item forward, said the county can expect measurable reductions in shootings and improvements in school engagement and workforce participation among high-risk youth if the program is expanded. "This is a successful program that I have previously championed," she said during introductory remarks.

Bishop Cornelius Bowser, director of Chafat Outreach, told the board No Shots Fired combines street outreach, conflict mediation, wraparound case management and cognitive-behavioral journaling led by violence interrupters with lived experience. Bowser cited a Chafat-commissioned cost-of-violence figure that estimates a fatal shooting costs roughly $4.0–$4.5 million and a nonfatal shooting about $1.3 million, and said preventing incidents is far cheaper than responding to them. "Preventing just 1 murder saves millions," he said.

Speakers at the board hearing — including San Diego Sheriff’s Lieutenant Kimon Harris and multiple outreach workers and community leaders — urged the board to support the pilot. Harris said the Sheriff’s Office is "on board" to work with community partners, and public commenters described weeks-long stretches without shootings in neighborhoods where outreach occurred. Therese Heimer, president of San Diegans for Gun Violence Prevention, told the board Spring Valley has one of the county’s highest rates of gun violence and called community-led intervention a "wise public-health approach."

Board members asked staff about oversight and reporting. Vice Chair Montgomery Stepp confirmed Chafat Outreach will provide updates and said annual reporting is required starting in 2027 under the board recommendation. Supervisor Desmond asked whether reports would be annual or less frequent; Montgomery Stepp said they would be annual beginning in 2027.

Vice Chair Montgomery Stepp moved the item and a chair pro tem seconded; the motion passed by oral vote with all supervisors present voting aye. The motion directs county staff to implement the pilot in partnership with community achievement centers in Spring Valley, provide administrative support and monitor outcomes. The board also directed the Chief Administrative Officer to return updates to the board on implementation and costs as the program is developed.

Next steps are implementation planning with Chafat Outreach and the county achievement centers and the scheduled annual reporting the board requested. The board will receive the first required reports beginning in 2027.