BUFFALO, N.Y. — For the first time in the city’s history, Buffalo has established an Office of Gun Violence Prevention — a move officials say is about far more than crime statistics.

Adrienne Garr, a licensed social worker with more than a decade of violence prevention experience, has been named the office’s executive director.

“I have served families, probably about over 500 families who have been affected by gun violence, either homicide or they’ve been injured,” Garr said.

Acting Mayor Chris Scanlon says Garr brings a deeply human perspective to the work.

“Adrienne understands that behind every statistic there is a person, there is a family, there is a community,” the acting Mayor said.

Garr said the new office will focus on several initiatives, including hosting community roundtab

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