Rochester Reporter

Mayor Malik D. Evans has announced that strategies previously used to reduce gun violence are now being applied to tackle non-violent crimes in the city. The mayor emphasized the importance of focused collaboration among law enforcement agencies and city partners, which he believes is crucial for addressing issues that significantly affect residents' quality of life.

"The lessons we’ve learned while bringing gun violence to pre-pandemic levels have taught that sometimes our biggest problems require a hyper focus on the people, places and patterns that have a disproportionate impact on quality of life," said Mayor Evans. "These partnerships and data-driven investigations are proving to be very effective in developing custom solutions to crimes that have a disproportionate impact on the quality of life of our residents."

Since declaring a Gun Violence State of Emergency in January 2022, there has been a notable decline in gun-related crimes. The rolling total of shootings over the past year dropped below 200 for the first time since June 2020. Additionally, three key firearm-related metrics under New York's Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative have decreased by more than 30% compared to their five-year averages: shootings are down by 38%, injuries from gunfire by 34%, and firearm-related homicides by 32%.

Despite these improvements, Mayor Evans remains committed to maintaining the Gun Violence State of Emergency. He also highlighted several initiatives aimed at reducing non-violent crime through partnerships with other law enforcement agencies and community organizations. These efforts include:

- Collaborating with State Police on Retail Theft Details using data-driven investigations.

- Utilizing a State Police helicopter to track and dismantle large groups of ATVs and dirt bikes.

- Conducting daily police patrols along Monroe Avenue to address challenges related to homelessness.

- Modifying street patterns with help from the Department of Environmental Services to prevent disruptive behavior in areas like Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

- Reducing motor vehicle thefts through the Monroe County Department of Probation Juvenile Enhanced Diversion Stabilization Program.

- Implementing the Advance Peace: Peacemaker Fellowship intervention program, which has helped reduce homicides in the 10th Ward.

"As I look back over the past three years, I recognize that the plague of violent crime that held a firm grip on our city at the start of 2022 was an unprecedented challenge that we’re confronting with unprecedented levels of collaboration both inside and outside of City Hall," said Mayor Evans. "When I took office, ‘It’s we, not me,’ was a mantra. Today it is the operational framework of my Administration and our relationships with our partners and allies. And for that, I am extremely gratified."