Data suggests a sharp drop in death by firearms and car theft
From the NYS Governor’s Office,
Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement Partnerships Have Produced Results
Rochester Experienced a 17 Percent Decrease in Shooting Incidents with Injury and a 30 Percent Reduction in the Number of Individuals Killed by Gun Violence
from January through October 22, 2023, vs. the Same Timeframe Last Year
Vehicle Thefts in the City Also Declined 38 Percent When Comparing Thefts in June – the Month with the Most Thefts Reported so far in 2023 – with Those Reported in August
Governor Hochul Urges Rochester and Finger Lakes Residents to Attend Software Update Clinics Hosted by Hyundai in Rochester This Month to Further Protect Their Vehicles from Theft
Governor Kathy Hochul today announced sustained, significant progress against gun violence and vehicle thefts in the city of Rochester. Federal, state, and local law enforcement partnerships have produced results, including a 17 percent decrease in shooting incidents with injury (217 vs. 261) and a 30 percent reduction in the number of individuals killed by gun violence (39 vs. 56) from January 1, through October 22, 2023, vs. the same time last year. Vehicle thefts in the city declined 38 percent when comparing thefts in June, which was the month with the most thefts reported so far in 2023, to those reported in August, the month with the second-fewest thefts reported this year. Governor Hochul also urged Rochester and Finger Lake residents to attend software update clinics hosted by Hyundai in Rochester this month to further protect their vehicles.
“As Governor, my top priority is to keep New Yorkers safe,” Governor Hochul said. “We have made record-level investments to address the scourge of gun violence affecting our communities, and we’ve launched a comprehensive strategy to combat the surge in car thefts seen across our state. We’re extremely proud of the progress we’ve made in Rochester, but we won’t rest until every New Yorker can live in the safe, peaceful community they deserve.”
Governor Hochul outlined these positive crime trends during remarks this morning at the annual Project Exile Community Report and Breakfast, hosted by Camp Good Days at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Henrietta, Monroe County. The event featured remarks from local elected officials, and local, state, and federal law enforcement partners, including federal Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Director Steven Dettelbach.
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Director Steven Dettelbach said, “Over the past year, ATF’s Rochester Violent Crime Task Force has worked tirelessly to bring federal charges against 112 defendants, seize 256 crime guns, including AK/AR style rifles and machine gun conversion devices, and help drive down the overall violent crime rate. This is dangerous, extraordinary work, and the success is because of one thing: partnership. The collaborative effort taking place in Rochester is truly one to be modeled across the country.”
Police departments that participate in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative, which includes Rochester Police, collectively have experienced the same declines this year through October 22: a 25 percent reduction (672 vs. 894) in shooting incidents with injury and 33 percent decline in the number of individuals killed by gun violence (117 vs. 175). The New York City Police Department also is reporting double-digit decreases in the number of shooting incidents and individuals shot through October 29, 2023: a 26 percent reduction in shooting incidents (834 vs. 1,119) and 377 fewer individuals injured by gunfire (982 vs. 1,359 or -28 percent).
Governor Hochul secured nearly $36.2 million for the GIVE initiative in the FY24 Budget, which includes the largest-ever investment in public safety and criminal justice funding to support Governor Hochul’s comprehensive, multifaceted approach to address gun violence, the surge in vehicle thefts and further improve public safety in communities across New York.
Governor Hochul’s administration has more than quadrupled funding to Rochester in the past two years to address pandemic-era increases in gun violence and other crimes.
