Two weeks into a federal task force aimed at reducing gun violence in Rochester and Buffalo, Rochester Police Chief Cynthia Herriott-Sullivan said it appears to be having an effect.
Herriott-Sullivan says in the two weeks prior to the VIPER Task Force beginning operations, there were 21 shootings and five homicides. In the two weeks since federal officers began targeting violent crime suspects, Rochester has had 11 shootings and only one homicide.
Rather than saturating neighborhoods with federal marshals, state police and local officers as in the past, this push is targeting suspects wanted for violent crimes. 29 suspects were targeted, and seven of those arrested have been turned over to federal authorities for prosecution on tougher federal charges, keeping them off the streets.
The chief says it’s too soon to say if the push is having the desired effect. She says they’ll know more in September after it’s been operating for 60 days.