Governor Hochul Announces Significant Progress in the Fight Against Gun Violence in Buffalo

 

Buffalo Police Department Reported a 73 Percent Decline in Firearm-Involved Homicides, 60 Percent Decline in the Number of Individuals Injured by Gunfire, and 59 Percent Decline in Shooting Incidents, When Comparing the First Half of 2023 to the Same Timeframe in 2021

Buffalo’s Reductions in Gun Violence During the First Six Months of This Year Far Exceeded Those Experienced by the 20 Police Departments Participating in the State’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative, Build Upon Double-Digit Decreases Reported by Buffalo Police in 2022

Governor Hochul Also Announced $2 Million in New State Funding for Community-Based Organizations in Buffalo, One of Seven Cities Participating in New Program Designed to Strengthen Neighborhoods Affected by Gun Violence

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced significant progress in the fight against gun violence in the City of Buffalo. Data reported by the City's Police Department for the first half of 2023 when compared to the same timeframe in 2021 showed a 73 percent decline in the number of firearm-involved homicides; 60 percent decline in those injured by gunfire; and a 59 percent decline in shooting incidents. Buffalo’s reductions in gun violence during the first six months of this year led the 20 police departments that participate in the state’s Gun Involved Violence Elimination initiative and builds upon double-digit decreases in shooting incidents with injuries and individuals shot in 2022. Governor Hochul also announced $2 million in new state funding for community-based organizations in Buffalo, one of seven cities participating in a new program designed to strengthen neighborhoods affected by gun violence.

“From law enforcement officers to elected officials, ensuring public safety is a responsibility that falls on each of us,” Governor Hochul said. “We have made record-level investments to address the scourge of gun violence affecting our communities, and we’re extremely proud of the progress we’ve made in Buffalo and across our state – but there’s more work to be done. We won’t rest until gun violence is an afterthought and every New Yorker can live in the safe, peaceful community they deserve.”

Governor Hochul visited the Buffalo Police Department, where she outlined the city’s tremendous progress in fighting gun violence, as well as investments and actions she has taken to address the pandemic-era spike, including the creation of the Interstate Task Force on Illegal Guns. Last year, the Buffalo Police seized the most guns since 2010: 956 guns, including 76 ghost guns. At the same time, police agencies across the state seized 10,427 illegal guns, a 65 percent increase when compared to 2019 (6,338 guns) and a 15 percent increase when compared to 2021 (9,088 guns).

During the first half of 2023, police agencies across the state seized 4,611 illegal guns – fewer than the same timeframe last year, but a 52 percent increase since 2019. New York State Police has seized 6 percent more guns in the first six months of this year and 166 percent more guns than the agency did in 2019.

January - June of Each Year	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023
Statewide Gun Seizures	3,032	2,819	4,285	5,424	4,611
New York State Police Gun Seizures	276	210	334	694	735

In Buffalo, there were 29 fewer individuals killed (11 vs. 40); 111 fewer persons shot (73 vs. 184); and 90 fewer shooting incidents with injury (63 vs. 153) during the first half of 2023 as compared to the first half of 2021, when pandemic-era gun violence peaked. These three key gun violence metrics in the city have been trending below the five-year average (2018 – 2022) since January 2023. Total homicides were down 62 percent in Buffalo from January 2023 – June 2023 when compared to the same period last year.

The Governor also highlighted double-digit decreases in gun violence for the first half of 2023, as reported by the 20 police departments currently participating in GIVE, and declines in shootings reported by the New York City Police Department this month.

Shooting incidents with injury in GIVE communities declined 28 percent (377 vs. 521), and the number of individuals shot decreased 26 percent (456 vs. 614) during the first half of 2023 as compared to the same timeframe in 2022. Both of these gun violence indicators have been trending below the five-year average (2018 - 2022) since January 2023. In addition, 48 fewer individuals (64 vs. 112, -43 percent) were killed by gun violence when comparing January through June 2023 with the same six-month period in 2022, and that indicator has been trending below the five-year average since March 2023. Gun violence also declined in New York City, though not as sharply as it did in Buffalo: a 28 percent decline in shooting victims and 27 percent decrease in shooting incidents through July 23, 2023.

Governor Hochul also announced that 16 community-based organizations in Buffalo have received $2 million in state funding through Project RISE, a new program to strengthen communities dealing with the long-term effects of gun violence. Administered by the state Division of Criminal Justice Services, the funding is being shared equally among Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition, Metro Community Development Corporation – Devalan Grider Community Center, Open Buffalo, and VOICE Buffalo.

Those four organizations must use at least 25 percent of its funding to support grassroots organizations. A total of 16 organizations are receiving funding through that requirement: Be Elite, Inc., Bury the Violence, Candles in the SUN, Confident Girls Mentoring Program, Feed Buffalo, The Foundry, FruitBelt United, Full Circle, Galactic Tribe, Johnny B. Wiley, Massachusetts Avenue Project, P.E.A.C.E. Inc., Project Mona’s House, RAWTools Buffalo, REALTalk, and Unit Promise.

Governor Hochul secured $337 million – an increase of $110 million – in the FY24 Budget to support her comprehensive, multifaceted plan to target gun violence and violent crime, improve public safety, and strengthen communities. That plan includes, but is not limited to, the following funding, which also is administered by the Division of Criminal Justice Services:

• $36 million for GIVE. This record-level funding has allowed the state to expand the nationally recognized initiative to eight new police departments and four additional counties. As of July 1, 2023, GIVE funding now supports 28 police departments, and district attorneys' offices, probation departments, and sheriffs' offices in 21 counties outside of New York City hardest hit by gun violence and violent crime.

• $25 million for the state’s SNUG Street Outreach program, which operates in 14 communities and uses a public health approach to address gun violence: identify the source, interrupt its transmission, and treat those affected by ongoing exposure to violence.

• $16 million to support and expand the state's Crime Analysis Center Network. A new center is being established in New York City, bringing to 11 the number of centers in the network, which is supported by the state in partnership with local law enforcement agencies. The centers in Erie, Monroe, Onondaga and Albany counties were the first to be established; others are located in Broome, Franklin, Niagara, Oneida, Orange, and Suffolk counties. In 2022, staff at the centers responded to more than 66,000 requests for assistance from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, helping agencies solve murders, robberies, burglaries, gun crimes, and other serious cases.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services provides critical support to all facets of the state's criminal justice system, including, but not limited to: training law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals; overseeing a law enforcement accreditation program; ensuring Breathalyzer and speed enforcement equipment used by local law enforcement operate correctly; managing criminal justice grant funding; analyzing statewide crime and program data; providing research support; overseeing county probation departments and alternatives to incarceration programs; and coordinating youth justice policy. Follow DCJS on Facebook and Twitter.