Prince George's and Montgomery counties are joining forces to fight the threat of gangs.
A $2.7 million joint county gang initiative was announced Thursday to help the counties crack down on gang activity and prevent young people from taking part in it.
U.S. Reps. Steny Hoyer, Chris Van Hollen and Donna F. Edwards, all Democrats, helped secure the federal funds that will pay for the program.
Officials said a big chunk of the money will be used to create programs and activities that provide children and young adults with safe alternatives to gangs.
During a news conference at Langley Park Community Center in Hyattsville, Md., Rep. Hoyer said, "Gang activity must be addressed in a comprehensive regional way, both in the approaches we use and in the coordination across jurisdictional lines. Nobody believes that anybody who commits crime is concerned about stopping at a jurisdictional line."
