”No Shots Fired by Newark Police This Year Following 2-Years of De-Escalation Training”
Newark city officials announced that police recovered 496 illegal firearms during year 2020.
“I’m grateful that Newark Police Officers are safely and efficiently taking guns off our streets, as the City of Newark is not a place where violence will be tolerated,” Mayor Baraka said.
“We have worked hard to reduce crime and are committed to keeping our residents and their families safe, especially when it comes to reducing senseless gun violence.”
“Removing 496 illegal firearms from our streets equals at least 496 fewer victims of violence and fewer funerals,” Director Ambrose said.
“We will continue to be vigilant about removing illegal guns that wreak havoc in our communities.”
Director Ambrose added that the total guns recovered in year 2020, with 339 arrests, represents a 7 percent increase over last year, when Newark Police recovered 461 illegal guns with 303 arrests.
He further reports that not a single shot was fired by a Newark Police Officer during year 2020.
“This is proof-positive that our de-escalation training is highly effective. Our officers have embraced de-escalation training and are actively employing this resource when engaging with the community,” Director Ambrose said.
“Our training also played a huge role in Newark having zero violence during this year’s protests of the murder of George Floyd.
The community and police worked together to ensure that non-Newark residents, who came here to protest, didn’t initiate any violence in our City.”
Director Ambrose extends his gratitude to our county law enforcement partners for their support with gun seizures this year. “I thank the Essex County Sheriff’s Department and its Bureau of Narcotics in the recovery of 29 illegal guns, and the Essex County Prosecutor’s Office along with its Homicide Task Force for helping us to recover 21 firearms in Newark this year. Their assistance brings our total to 550 guns removed from our neighborhoods in 2020.”