Ret. Police Deputy Chief · 27 Years in Law Enforcement
A Practical Guide to Understanding, Interrupting, and Preventing Youth Gun Violence — built on three decades of front-line experience and a whole-of-community vision.
The Book
This book was not written as an academic exercise. It was written after nearly three decades of witnessing the devastating impact of youth gun violence — from patrol officer to Deputy Chief of Investigations — and from the perspective of someone who has experienced its personal cost.
An arrest may end one incident, but it rarely ends the conditions that created it. This playbook offers a practical framework for preventing violence before it happens — not just responding after.
ISBN: 979-8-9968039-0-3
About the Author
Over a 27-year career, Jose Salcido served in law enforcement in roles ranging from patrol officer to Deputy Chief of Investigations. During that time, he investigated violent crimes, supervised complex investigations, and worked alongside dedicated men and women committed to protecting their communities.
His conviction that prevention must precede enforcement deepened through personal tragedy — including the death of a childhood friend's child to gun violence — and through graduate study at Air University, where systems thinking and interdisciplinary leadership shaped his whole-of-community approach.
Since retiring, Jose has dedicated himself to sharing what nearly three decades in the field taught him: that violence is preventable when communities become intentional about prevention.
What's Inside
Every chapter delivers practical insights for the people who work where prevention becomes possible.
Trauma, grief, fear, social pressure, isolation, limited opportunities, fractured relationships — and how they converge to make violence feel inevitable.
Practical tools for identifying risk before crises develop — so you can interrupt the sequence of events before lives are lost.
How mentors, educators, faith leaders, and credible messengers create the trusted connections that change trajectories.
Treating families as partners — not subjects — and providing the support structures that make safe futures possible.
How nonprofits, schools, law enforcement, healthcare, and faith organizations build a whole-of-community prevention system.
The proven link between economic opportunity, purpose, belonging, and reduced youth violence — and what your organization can do about it.
Foreword
"Jose has always believed public safety is a shared responsibility. Long before it was widely accepted, he saw that no single agency could resolve youth violence alone. Inside, you'll find not easy answers, but practical insights and a framework for hope-filled collaboration."
Who This Is For
Whether you serve one neighborhood or an entire city, this book is for you.
Speaking & Consulting
Drawing on nearly three decades in law enforcement and years of studying leadership and systems thinking, Jose delivers keynotes and workshops that are grounded in real-world experience — not theory.
Request a Speaking EngagementAn engaging, evidence-informed keynote on youth violence prevention for conferences, summits, and organizational events.
Hands-on sessions for organizations and coalitions — building practical prevention plans and community partnerships.
Professional development for law enforcement, nonprofit, and school leaders on whole-of-community prevention strategy.
Organization-level consultation on violence prevention programs, partnership development, and strategy alignment.
Get in Touch
For speaking engagements, bulk book orders, media inquiries, or consulting opportunities, reach out using the form or contact details below.