Exclusive | NYC shells out $6M in taxpayer dollars for shrinks to treat ex-con violence interrupters

Ex-con “violence interrupters” hired in some of the Big Apple’s roughest neighborhoods to stop crimes before cops get involved are getting millions of dollars worth of free therapy, The Post has learned.NYC has shelled out $1.2 million of a $6 million contract with Agape Moments LLC to create the “Strong Messenger Program,” providing counseling to the interrupters, often ex-cons with violent histories dispatched to quell tensions between gangs they may have once belonged to.So far, 18 therapists have provided 1,100 hours of group therapy to 32 non-profit organizations, reaching 360 individuals.The contract is funded by the city Department of Health and Mental Hygiene until 2030.Clinicians provided more than 390 hours of individual therapy sessions to the violence interrupters upon request, according to Agape, whose name comes from the Greek concept of “unconditional love.’ Individual violence interrupters can receive up to 24 therapy sessions per year,” according to the contract, inked in 2024 under former Mayor Eric Adams.“Investing in the mental health of our community workers is a direct investment in the long-term success and stability of New York City’s public safety infrastructure,” insisted the New York City based group.Critics bashed the lefty program is siphoning money away from the NYPD and achieving very little.“What the f–k do they need therapy for?” a police source raged about the program.

“The majority of violence interrupters have criminal pasts.”The city shells out nearly $100 million annually for its Crisis Management System, which includes more than 20 non-profit Community Violence Intervention groups, according to a city comptroller’s report last year.One community violence intervention group that receives city funds employed an ex-con killer who cops say slashed a man in the Bronx last month, The Post revealed.The Bronx Rises Against Gun Violence worker — Mario Munro — allegedly attacked a stranger around 3...