City to enlist ex-cons for youth counseling
By Laurel J. Sweet
Friday, May 21, 2004

Still treading through a homicide wave that bordered on crisis last week, Mayor Thomas M. Menino and Boston police Commissioner Kathleen O'Toole said they will enlist 20 ex-cons to serve as peer leaders to troubled youth.

As for which former offenders will qualify, Menino said, ``Some of these kids only make small mistakes. They can be role models. The police can't do it alone.''

Last week's fatal shootings of Napoleon ``June Bug'' Maiben, 41, Marquis Boseman, 18, Christian Deburgo, 22, and Harlan Harris, 16, have prompted numerous emergency meetings by police and community leaders.

On Tuesday, two letter carriers who feared for their lives refused to deliver mail to the Bromley-Heath public housing project in Jamaica Plain, where Maiben was killed and warring street gangs have allegedly been settling their disputes with gunplay.

O'Toole said she wants to hear from all sides of the violence dilemma.

``We'll meet with good kids,'' she said, ``but we'll also meet with the kids who've been on the edge.

``Our No. 1 priority is the safety of our children.''

 The mayor and Boston's top cop met for one hour yesterday behind closed doors at City Hall with close to three dozen clerics from different faiths. They plan to reconvene next month.

Menino said he wants continued emphasis placed on facilitating prisoner re-entry to society and challenged businesses to hire former offenders. He also wants more clergy trained in conducting home visits to families in need.

 The Rev. Nicolas Homicil, pastor of The Voice of the Gospel Tabernacle in Mattapan, calls on an average of five households each week.

``Some of (these kids) are desperately looking for a parent's affection,'' Homicil said. ``They don't grow up with a father at home and the frustration of that leads to violence.''