Wilford Pinkney, Jr.

Wilford Pinkney Jr. has spent the last 35+ years in the criminal justice sector, promoting safety, education, policy development, and training. He currently serves as the Director of the Office of Violence Prevention (OVP) for the City of St. Louis. The Office of Violence Prevention provides strategic direction and oversight for the City of St. Louis' efforts to create safe and healthy neighborhoods free of violence. OVP’s strategy is to coordinate a Community Violence Intervention (CVI) ecosystem that brings together local stakeholders to build a comprehensive violence reduction infrastructure that promotes equity and complements the work of law enforcement.

Mr. Pinkney previously served as the Director of the Mayor’s Office of Children, Youth, and Families for the City of St. Louis. He oversaw the development of a Crisis Management System focused on building healthy and vibrant communities by addressing trauma and increasing access to care. Prior to joining the administration, Pinkney was a FUSE Executive Fellow, leading a cross-sector group of stakeholders in the development of a comprehensive pretrial reform plan for the City of St. Louis. He also served 20 years as a member of the New York City Police Department and is the founder and CEO of Puissance Management & Consulting LLC.

Wilford holds a B.S. in Organizational Management from Mercy College, a Master of Public Administration from New York University, and a Master of Arts in Political Science from the CUNY Graduate Center. He is currently a doctoral candidate in Political Science at the CUNY Graduate Center, specializing in public policy and American politics.