By Cyrus Vance, Manhattan District Attorney

On the one-year anniversary of the deadly shootings in Tucson, Ariz., this month, I stood side by side with families robbed of loved ones because of gun violence. In Harlem and across the country, thousands of people lit candles in memory of shooting victims and called on law enforcement, elected officials and the community to work harder to stop senseless gun deaths and keep our kids and neighborhoods safe.

There is no greater mission for the Manhattan district attorney's office and our partners in law enforcement than public safety, but our crime prevention efforts are not limited to prosecuting cases. We must continue to build strong partnerships with the community. Police officers and prosecutors are public servants tasked with the critically important job of keeping New Yorkers safe. By developing closer ties with the community, we can improve our ability to protect that community...