NYC enlists gangsters

NEW York City is enlisting former gang members as “violence interrupters” to help keep the peace amid a summer spike in the killings of young people.

The city funds 18 such groups that attack acts of violence like outbreaks of a disease they must keep from spreading.

They hold rallies to stoke outrage over crimes. They hang out in high-crime spots to watch out for trouble. And they step in to mediate fights.

The groups are part of Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan to maintain historically low crime rates.