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GREENSBORO — Community and police pressure on gangs may be helping to reduce gang-related crime in the city.

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Capt. John Wolfe, who commands the division that includes Greensboro's 6-month-old gang suppression unit, said gang-related crimes are down since the group's inception.

While the gang unit has worked to stop gang members from committing crimes, a faith-based community group has met to find ways to keep children and teenagers from becoming involved in gangs.

The group — sponsored by District 2 Councilwoman Goldie Wells — met Wednesday to consolidate a list of actions they plan to take. The list is based on ideas generated since the group formed in January.

Members also decided on a name: LYFE, standing for Love, Youth, Faith, Empowerment. Wells said the alternative spelling of "life," is eye-catching and allows the group's name to convey the reason its members came together.

Their efforts seem to be working.

In every month since November, there has been less violent crime and gang-related crime than the previous month, Wolfe said.

"Reported gang violence is down," Wolfe said. "Violent offenses are down and that's really our primary target."

He credits increased awareness of the gang unit for part of the decrease.

"I'd like to think it's because we have a gang unit and there's this awareness there's a gang unit," Wolfe said. Some gang members have moved away from Greensboro because the squad was formed, he said.

"When you hear about three or four little groups picking up and moving out, that makes you feel good," he said.

Wolfe acknowledged that part of the reduction is cyclical: fewer violent crimes are committed in cold months.

"We see an increase in violent crime in the summer, generally," Wolfe said. "When school gets out, I think we're going to see another increase."

Police are working to compile enough data on gang-related crimes to establish a "baseline" for the city.

"For years and years some portion of our crime has been gang-related," Wolfe said.

But police have only recently begun isolating gang-related crimes in the statistics they keep.

"I think we're getting to the place where people understand the importance of having accurate numbers," Wolfe said.

Wells also gives credit to residents of Greensboro for recognizing the problem of gang involvement and being willing to take action to correct it.

"Gangs are a problem and we have to do something about it," Wells said. "And these people said 'We want to do something.'"

At Tuesday's City Council meeting, members from LYFE's three subgroups plan to present their new initiatives, including a survey asking what services youths and their families would like to see; a brochure outlining the group's purpose and the services it offers; and several recreational and educational activities that participating churches have organized.

Wells said the group's commitment went beyond her expectations.

"I just wanted to raise awareness and see what we could do," Wells said. "This is to another level."

Contact Sonja Elmquist at 373-7090 or sonja.elmquist@news-record.com