CPD Removes 2,800 Guns Off the Streets Since Jan. 1

Chicago police are seizing one gun per hour since beginning of the year.

Beverly-MtGreenwood, IL
By LORRAINE SWANSON (Patch Staff) - April 29, 2016 2:41 am ET


Chief of Patrol Fred Waller talks about some of the recently seized guns. | CPD

CHICAGO, IL -- Supt. Eddie Johnson says the Chicago Police Department has taken more than 2,800 guns off the street since the beginning of the year. Guns have been removed from stepped up policing, gun buyback events and targeted organized crime initiatives.

"For every gun we take off the street, we have the potential to save another life and make our neighborhoods safer," Johnson said in a written statement.

Community-led gun buyback events have contributed to the confiscation of guns off the streets in neighborhoods across Chicago. The city is funding nearly $250,000 to help interested community organizations and churches host buybacks in their neighborhoods.

Groups interested in hosting their own gun buyback events can contact buyback@chicagopolice.org.

According to Chicago police, the city recovers more guns than any police department in the United States. Compared to cities of similar populations, in 2012 (the last year comparable data was available) Chicago recovered seven times more guys per capita than the NYPD and LAPD.

While the three cities’ significant non-gun-related homicides in each of these three cities is fairly similar, Chicago’s gun-related homicide rate is much higher.

Easy access to illegal guns in Chicago remains the most serious public safety threat in the city.

With 2,800 guns removed from city streets since Jan. 1, police have removed at least one gun nearly every hour. The increased seizure rate is attributed to gun buyback events and heightened police efforts.

CPD’s Bureau of Organized Crime Narcotics Unit has conducted an anti-violence operation on offenders last week in the Harrison and Austin Districts. As a result of the operation, 54 individuals were arrested on felony narcotics charges and seven guns were recovered.

http://patch.com/illinois/beverly-mt...treets-jan-1-0