SALINAS, Calif. -- The City of Salinas is using a higher power in the fight against crime.
Now the city is turning to a faith-based movement to push crime out of neighborhoods.
Bill Turner and his wife have been walking the streets of Salinas for the last 25 years, picking up trash and getting to know their neighbors.
Every morning, they hit the streets, including the east side.
They do it not only to keep their community clean, but to get to know their neighbors, something Turner said is crucial in fighting the city's crime.
"One of the solutions would be meeting our neighbors and getting to be out with them, and be friends with them," Turner said.
As a member of the First Baptist Church, Turner is someone the city wants all churches to model.
The city rolled out the online movement called "Love Salinas" to organize all churches and their neighbors to make the streets safer.
"We're talking at least a dozen churches that are calling to their membership to be involved in Salinas, keeping Salinas safe and our quality of life as high as possible," said Steve McShane, city councilman with the Salinas Neighborhood Council.
"I think the people would feel better knowing that they're talking to Christian people, people that are honest and sincere," Turner said.
Turner said 54 years ago he could leave his garage door open when he wasn't home, and feel safe.
He's hoping after each walk, he gets closer to restoring that peace in the city.
"We have met people that are now doing the same thing over the whole entire Salinas, so this is a goal for us," he said.
The movement is in response to the staffing shortage ofat least six officers in the Salinas Police Department.
