Latest news with #GunInvolvedViolenceElimination
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Hochul touts New York's falling crime statistics
Gov. Kathy Hochul last week announced that reported gun violence across New York state has continued to decline, reaching the lowest level since the state began tracking the data in 2006. According to a news release from Hochul's office, new statistics released by the State Division of Criminal Justice Services show a 15% decline in shooting victims and a 9% drop in shooting incidents with injury from Jan. 1 through April 30, compared to the same period last year, in communities participating in the state's Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative. 'Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority. Since taking office, my administration has been laser focused on eliminating gun violence and reducing the number of gun-related injuries and fatalities across the state,' Hochul said. 'Our efforts are working, and I am committed to continuing our record level support for gun violence prevention initiatives in our most impacted communities to ensure all New Yorkers are safe.' Newly released data comes from the 28 police departments outside of New York City participating in the state's Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative. Those police departments report roughly 90% of violent crimes involving firearms and 85% of violent crime reported outside New York City. Since 2021, shootings in New York are down by more than 50% and murders are down 30%, according to the release. Between January and April this year, those departments reported 156 shooting victims, down from 183 during the same period in 2024; and 139 shooting incidents with injury, down from 153 in 2024 — data that are the result of a coordinated, data-driven effort to reduce gun violence in the State's most impacted communities, the release stated. State Division of Criminal Justice Services Commissioner Rossana Rosado said, 'New York's strategy is working because it's grounded in data, backed by funding, and built on strong partnerships. We are proud to support our law enforcement and community partners with the tools they need to make every neighborhood safer.' According to the U.S. Center for Disease Control the murder rate in New York declined by 8% from 2023 to 2024. Mortality data shows that New York has the second lowest homicide rate of the 15 most populous states and the lowest homicide rate of the top 10 states. CDC data also show that New York has the third lowest firearm-related mortality rate, including firearm-related homicides, accidental discharges, and suicides, in the nation behind only Massachusetts and New Jersey. Preliminary full-year crime data from DCJS shows a 4% decline in overall index crime statewide in 2024 compared to 2023. The 57 counties outside New York City reported an 8% drop in crimes with 5% fewer violent crimes and 9% fewer property crimes, the release stated. In the 57 counties outside of New York City, the following categories of crime declined from 2023 to 2024, with robbery and burglary at the lowest levels on record: • Motor vehicle theft, down 27% • Robbery, down 11% • Burglary, down 8% • Larceny, down 6%
Newsweek
28-05-2025
- Newsweek
New York Gun Violence Hits Record Low: What To Know
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Democratic New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced on Tuesday that gun violence in the state has reached its lowest level since 2006, when the state began tracking this data. In communities participating in the state's Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative, the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) reported a 15 percent decline in shooting victims and a 9 percent decline in shootings resulting in injury from January 1 to April 30 compared to the same period last year, the governor's office said in a press release. Governor Kathy Hochul announces Fiscal 2026 budget investments in subway safety at Grand Central Terminal on May 1, 2025, in New York City. Governor Kathy Hochul announces Fiscal 2026 budget investments in subway safety at Grand Central Terminal on May 1, 2025, in New York City. NDZ/STAR MAX/IPx Why It Matters The data comes from 28 police departments outside of New York City participating in the GIVE initiative. These police departments report around 90 percent of violent crimes involving firearms outside New York City. The initiative aims at reducing shootings and other firearm-related crimes by providing state funding to local law enforcement agencies for equipment, overtime and personnel. It also provides training and technical assistance to those agencies. What To Know The police departments involved in the GIVE initiative include Albany Police Department, Binghamton Police Department, Auburn Police Department, Jamestown Police Department, Elmira Police Department, Poughkeepsie Police Department, Amherst Police Department and Buffalo Police Department. Cheektowaga Police Department, Lackawanna Police Department, Watertown Police Department, Greece Police Department, Rochester Police Department, Hempstead Police Department, Nassau County Police Department and Niagara Falls Police Department also participate in the GIVE initiative. Other law enforcement agencies following the GIVE initiative are Utica Police Department, Syracuse Police Department, Middletown Police Department, Newburgh Police Department, Troy Police Department, Spring Valley Police Department, Schenectady Police Department, Suffolk County Police Department, Ithaca Police Department, Kingston Police Department, Mount Vernon Police Department and Yonkers Police Department. Between January and April, these departments reported 156 shooting victims, down from 183 during the same period last year. Since 2021, when Hochul took office, shootings in New York are down 50 percent and murders are down 30 percent, the release said. What People Are Saying New York Governor Kathy Hochul, in a statement: "Keeping New Yorkers safe is my top priority. Since taking office, my administration has been laser focused on eliminating gun violence and reducing the number of gun-related injuries and fatalities across the State. Our efforts are working, and I am committed to continuing our record level support for gun violence prevention initiatives in our most impacted communities to ensure all New Yorkers are safe." DCJS Commissioner Rossana Rosado, in a statement: "New York's strategy is working because it's grounded in data, backed by funding, and built on strong partnerships. We are proud to support our law enforcement and community partners with the tools they need to make every neighborhood safer." What Happens Next Hochul's office said that the 2026 fiscal year budget will build on public safety efforts, including $347 million allocated to gun violence programs and continued funding for DCJS initiatives that support local law enforcement, community-based violence prevention and victim services. Do you have a story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
State Senator Sean Ryan announces public safety plan in race for mayor
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — State Senator Sean Ryan announced his plans for public safety in the City of Buffalo on Friday ahead of the mayoral primary in June and the general election in November. Keeping the city safe will be his top priority if he becomes mayor, he said. Here are the steps he is proposing: set clear goals support safe communities to prevent crime data driven community policing bolster police intelligence sharing invest in technology invest in training and wellness improve transparency support state efforts safer streets and pedestrian safety Ryan emphasized the need to reduce homicides, rapes, and other violent crimes. He said he would work to address gang activity, getting illegal guns off the streets, and improving safety along commercial corridors. Ryan said he would expand opportunities for at-risk youth and adults in an effort to prevent crime as well as keeping police present in high-crime hotspots. The Gun Involved Violence Elimination, that helped reduce shootings in the city by 57% between 2021 and 2024, would continue to be expanded by Ryan should he become mayor, he said. 'Everyone should be able to feel safe while walking around their neighborhood, no matter where they live in the city,' Ryan said. 'I'll ensure our police officers have the training that they need, demand accountability and transparency from local law enforcement, and ensure the Buffalo Police Department is fully staffed and funded.' Kayleigh Hunter-Gasperini joined the News 4 team in 2024 as a Digital Video Producer. She is a graduate of Chatham University. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Yahoo
Falls police arrest two during Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) operation
Falls police, with assistance from Niagara County Sheriff's Office deputies and Niagara County Probation officers, disrupted activity at a pair of city drug houses during an operation conducted last week as part of New York State's GIVE (Gun Involved Violence Elimination) initiative. In addition to enhanced patrols at 'drug hot spots' in the city, the task force of officers and deputies also executed a pair of search warrants in the 500 block of 20th Street and the 1000 block of 19th Street. Narcotics and Intelligence Division detectives said their targeted suspect was not at 545 20th St. when they came knocking on Thursday. However, investigators said they did not leave empty-handed after seizing a quantity of what was described as ammunition, quantities of suspected cocaine and suspected fentanyl, along with drug paraphernalia. Detectives said half a dozen people were located inside the home, which had reportedly been the subject of numerous neighborhood complaints. Neighbors said it was a frequent site for large gatherings and that they had observed 'drug activity and illegal gambling' outside the residence. Police said they arrested Claude Wilson, 47, of the Falls, on an outstanding arrest warrant issued by a Niagara Falls City Court judge. Also arrested on 19th Street was Dominique Hilson, 30, of the Falls. A pair of sheriff's investigators spotted Hilson standing across 20th Street, watching the activity and confirmed that she was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant issued out of Erie County. Hilson was taken into custody without incident. Officers and deputies also did not did not get their targeted suspect at 1015 19th St. Investigators said that property, which has previously been condemned, has also been the subject of numerous neighborhood complaints regarding drug activity. Investigators said they seized drug paraphernalia and ammunition from that location. The GIVE initiative represents a million-dollar-plus investment in reducing gun violence in the Falls. The city has received a 2024-25 grant allocation of $1,228,947 as part of a more than $36 million state-wide allocation for a program. GIVE has been credited with producing a two-year drop in incidents of gun violence, including a 37% reduction in shooting incidents in the state in 2024, compared to a five-year average. State officials have also said that the grant funding has led to a record number of illegal firearms seizures. The 2024-25 GIVE funding for Falls police represents a slight decrease from the $1.24 million contained in the 2023-24 grant. That money was part of a $2.18 million grant to Niagara County law enforcement agencies that included the Niagara County District Attorney's Office, the Niagara County Sheriff's Office and Niagara County Probation. Give operations rely heavily on data-driven crime responses, utilizing information compiled and analyzed by the Niagara Intelligence & Crime Analysis Center (NICAC). Falls police have said that data analysis allows them to better patrol the Cataract City streets by allowing them to identify what they describe as crime 'Hot Spots.' The grant also fully funds the work of a Falls Criminal Investigation Division (CID) detective who works solely on non-fatal shooting cases. GIVE also funds a multi-faceted community outreach program. Falls Police Superintendent Nicholas Ligammari, who previously, in his role as a police captain, supervised the NFPD GIVE initiative, has described it as 'a multi-agency, evidence-based, enforcement program.' The New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), which funds GIVE, describes it as 'a key component of New York state's shooting and homicide reduction strategy.' The program, now in its 11th year, focuses on four core elements, which DCJS says are people, places, alignment and engagement. GIVE jurisdictions are required to use a policing framework known as Problem-Oriented Policing (POP). DCJS says the key components of POP are hotspots policing, focused deterrence, street outreach, and a concept called Crime Prevention through Environmental Design (CPTED). Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design looks at how the design of buildings, landscaping and outdoor environments can either encourage or discourage crime. In a description of the program, DCJS said GIVE 'is directed at preventative and enforcement efforts on top offenders who have been identified as being responsible for most shootings and homicides or aggravated assaults.' The program is designed to focus on 'preventative and enforcement efforts on the geographic locations (hot spots) where crime data and analysis demonstrate that most shootings and homicides or aggravated assaults occur.' Funding is provided to 28 police departments, district attorney's offices, probation departments and sheriff's offices in the 21 counties outside of New York City that have been hit the hardest by gun violence and violent crime. The funding for 2024-25 is the highest level in the program's history.
Yahoo
19-03-2025
- Yahoo
Two face drug, weapon possession counts after Watertown traffic stop
Mar. 19—WATERTOWN — Two men face drug and weapon possession charges following a traffic stop by police Tuesday on State Street. Patrick M. Booth, 44, of 26464 Route 180, Brownville, is charged by city police with two counts each of third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon, all felonies, as well as single felony counts of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminal possession of weapon and second-degree obstructing governmental administration. Terry J. Rivers, 45, of 529 Clay St., is charged with two counts each of third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and third-degree criminal possession of a weapon and single counts of second-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and second-degree criminal possession of a weapon. Police said in a statement Wednesday that on Tuesday city police, the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, the Metro-Jefferson Drug Task Force and state police were conducting a multi-agency Gun Involved Violence Elimination detail and halted a vehicle operated by Booth with Rivers as a passenger at 905 State St. for allegedly making an improper turn signal. During an investigation, narcotics were found in the vehicle, according to police, and Booth fled from the scene into 905 State St., where he barricaded himself inside a basement. After a brief negotiation, he was taken into custody without further incident. During a search of the vehicle, police say they found six ounces of cocaine, two ounces of methamphetamine, 1,300 bags of fentanyl, assorted other drugs pending identification through lab testing, a set of dagger swords, $7,431 cash, a loaded 9mm handgun and a set of scales. Both men are being held at the Metro_Jeff Public Safety Building without bail.
