A recent rash of gun violence across South King County now has different communities banding together to crack down on crime.
The new task force that includes police and mayors from every city from Renton to Kent to Sea-Tac met for the first time this week.
The goal is to crack down on gun and gang violence. Police and mayors from all the different communities say crimes have gotten to the point where they all need to work together.
Authorities say since the beginning of the year, there have been 16 homicides involving guns, 48 people were injured in shootings and authorities responded to at least 100 reports of shots fired.
They say a region-wide task force is needed to focus on both guns and gangs.
Police say gang activities in and around Seattle are escalating since the beginning of the year.
Their priority now is to get the worst offenders off the streets.
Aside from law enforcement, efforts will be put into creating jobs and after school programs for young people who would otherwise be drawn into gangs.
The next meeting for the task force will be in Auburn later this month.