NYPD deploys neighborhood safety teams to combat rising gun violence in New York City

The NYPD’s new Neighborhood Security Groups hit the streets Monday to fight rising gun violence in New York Metropolis.

The initiative will begin with 25 instructions patrolling essentially the most harmful neighborhoods within the metropolis’s 5 boroughs, NYPD Commissioner Keechant Sewell informed reporters Friday.

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Sewell stated the plan is to roll out extra groups sooner or later, emphasizing that the officers’ presence within the neighborhoods will concentrate on gun violence and prison exercise.

“They don’t seem to be in plain garments; the uniform on the again plainly states NYPD Police,” Sewell stated. “They’re there for the security of the neighborhood and to get the violent offenders off the streets.”

The unit is a part of Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to make New York Metropolis safer amid an increase in violent crime.

As of March 6, police knowledge exhibits there have been 215 citywide capturing victims year-to-date – an 18.8% improve in comparison with 181 capturing victims reported throughout similar interval final yr.

Citywide capturing incidents additionally elevated 14.3% year-to-date in comparison with 2021, with 192 reported to this point this yr in comparison with 168 throughout the identical interval final yr, based on NYPD statistics.

Earlier than the neighborhood security groups had been deployed Monday, Sewell stated the assigned officers all underwent intensive coaching. 

She stated that neighborhood enter was a part of the coaching, with neighborhood members expressing to the NYPD what modifications they wish to see and what their issues had been previously.

“We truly had to check out the errors of the previous and what we would have liked to alter,” Sewell stated. “The officers are being skilled within the structure, in neighborhood interplay, automotive stops, use of drive.”

Kenneth Corey, NYPD Chief of Division, stated the officers assigned to the neighborhood security groups all obtained seven days of coaching in a number of areas.

“They’re extensively skilled in minimal drive methods. They obtain superior techniques, automotive cease, de-escalation is central to all of it,” Corey informed reporters. “Communication abilities is an enormous a part of it, courtroom testimony coaching, and because the commissioner indicated, constitutional policing.”