By Paul Lathrop | Contributing Editor
In a surprising statement at a year-end news conference in Brooklyn, New York Police Commissioner Dermot Shea signaled that the NYPD will be shifting focus to arresting those that are committing actual crimes with guns rather than just going after those possessing guns.
Newsday is reporting Commissioner Shea stated, “You would be shocked how many guns are on the streets. We are going to put our resources against attacking people, not necessarily the guns because it is sad, there is almost an endless supply of guns.”
“We are making gun arrests at a breakneck pace and one could argue it is not having a significant impact on the level of violence,” Shea added. “I am going to go after [those] who are the people pulling the trigger on the streets of New York City, that is a much more manageable number and controllable number.”
This marks a huge change in the direction the department has been going.
Shea pointed out in the press conference that 19 members of a Brooklyn gang have been arrested and are responsible for 85 acts of violence in the city.
“We are making gun arrests at a breakneck pace and one could argue it is not having a significant impact on the level of violence,” Shea said. “I am going to go after [those] who are the people pulling the trigger on the streets of New York City, that is a much more manageable number and controllable number.”
Once arrested these criminals still must be tried, convicted, and serve significant time. All of those things are out of the hands of the NYPD, but this does seem to be a step in the right direction for the department.
