In a commendable effort to combat gun violence, the Buffalo Police have made 20 arrests of individuals for illegal gun possession and recovered 19 firearms in the first two weeks of June. Buffalo Police Commissioner Joseph Gramaglia has highlighted the increase in the number of illegal guns recovered compared to the previous year, indicating a positive trend in the fight against gun-related crimes in 2024.
The arrests were made as a result of various police operations including the execution of search warrants, SWAT team interventions, and routine traffic stops. Commissioner Gramaglia emphasized the importance of transparency, stating, "We want to get that information out to the public on the amount of guns that we're taking off the street and what happens to them at their court arraignment."
Out of the 20 individuals arrested in June, 10 have posted bail, 5 have been remanded by the judge, and 5 have yet to post bail. Commissioner Gramaglia stressed the need for strict consequences for those illegally possessing firearms, stating, "If we're going to make a dent in violent crime, if we're going to make a dent in reducing our shootings, we need to be very heavy-handed with those that are illegally possessing guns, and that includes spending time in jail and staying in jail."
The Buffalo Police Department's dedication to curbing gun violence is evident in their overall efforts. As of May, they have already recovered a total of 376 illegal guns indicating a significant increase compared to the previous three years. Commissioner Gramaglia acknowledged this progress, stating, "Looking overall at the last three years, year to date, we are up in the number of guns taken in."
Notably, two of the firearms recovered during the June arrests were identified as "ghost guns," a term used to describe firearms that are assembled from parts and lack serial numbers. The Buffalo Police are actively addressing this concerning trend.
Commissioner Gramaglia partially attributed the recent success in gun arrests to a state grant received by the Buffalo Police and other law enforcement agencies in Western New York. The Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) initiative provided a substantial funding of $6.4 million to agencies in Buffalo, Amherst, Cheektowaga, Lackawanna, and Erie County.
This grant has enabled the Buffalo Police Department to allocate additional resources for overtime patrols, allowing officers to be more visible and engaged in the community.
The Buffalo Police Department remains committed to ensuring the safety of the community by actively pursuing illegal gun possession and taking proactive measures to reduce gun-related crimes. The ongoing efforts, coupled with the support of the GIVE grant, are expected to have a significant impact on curbing gun violence in Buffalo and its surrounding areas.