Mayor Byron W. Brown and Buffalo Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson today announced the creation of a new crime fighting task force utilizing members of the city of Buffalo Police Department's Mobile Response Unit (MRU) and personnel deployed from the New York State Police. The State Police have assigned ten uniformed officers, one uniformed supervisor and two investigators to work with the MRU.
"The Police Department's Mobile Response Unit continues to demonstrate its effectiveness in fighting crime and making Buffalo's streets safer," said Mayor Brown. "I welcome the addition of these New York State Police officers who will work collaboratively and very closely with the MRU in its continuing effort to combat gang activity, illegal drug trafficking and removing illegal guns from our city streets. These important resources, when combined with our other crime fighting assets such as our new citywide video surveillance system and the approximately 100 new police officers who will hit city streets in July, strengthen our ongoing commitment to fight crime and protect the law abiding residents of Buffalo"
During 2007, when the Unit commenced operations in January, the MRU made 2,526 arrests, issued 6,239 summonses, impounded 645 vehicles, seized $178,118 in cash and removed 163 illegal weapons from the streets. Over the first two months of 2008, the Unit has made 583 arrests, issued 1,571 summonses, impounded 146 vehicles, seized $81,028 in cash and removed 55 illegal weapons from the streets.
"The Mobile Response Unit has been an extremely effective weapon for the Buffalo Police Department, " said Commissioner Gipson. "In just over a year of operations, the Unit has been instrumental in ridding the streets of Buffalo of guns, gangs and drugs. With the newly formed Task Force with the New York State Police, the Unit will now be able to do even more. I believe this partnership will only help to make the city a safer for all residents and business owners."
The mission of this new MRU/NYSP Task Force is consistent with ongoing MRU operations, including: ID & Target Gang members; target and eliminate high crime areas throughout the city; remove illegal guns from city streets; provide strict enforcement of the Mayor's Zero Tolerance Crime Policy; provide mobile response to Comstat analysis of crime data and intelligence; and help make Buffalo a better place to live, work and raise a family.
State Police Field Commander, Colonel Pedro Perez said, "The New York State Police remains committed to assisting the City of Buffalo in helping to reduce its violent crime rate. Our commitment began many years ago with Operation Crackdown, and continues with New York State's Operation IMPACT initiative."
