Rochester Beacon: Rochester officials mark gains against gun violence

Jacob Schermerhorn, Rochester Beacon

Last week, Rochester Mayor Malik Evans uttered a phrase he has used many times.

“I am gratified by these numbers, but I am not satisfied,” he said at a public safety news conference.

The numbers in question were the rates of gun violence, which have hit their lowest level in years. Rochester Police Department data show the number of shooting victims in July, August, and September—typically the most violent months each year—was 57, with nine fatal and 48 nonfatal incidents.

That is half the total in the same period last year (114 victims, 18 fatal). In fact, it ends a trend of more than 100 shootings in each third quarter since 2020.

The downward trend is true for the entire year to date. In 2024, there have been 124 shooting reports, with 21 fatal and 103 nonfatal incidents. The total to date is down from 172 shootings in 2023, 217 in 2022, 240 (a record high) in 2021, and 164 in 2020.

“It is significant to note that the majority of (homicides) are the results of domestic disputes and violent disputes (not involving guns) as opposed to the results of gun violence,” RPD Chief David Smith said at the press conference.

The chief credited recent programs with improving outcomes. The Non-Fatal Shootings Taskforce, for example, led to a closure rate of 25 percent when partnering with the district attorney’s office. Started last April, the NFS supports a team of police, prosecutors, victim/community advocates, and crime analysts that secures crime scenes and collects evidence immediately, the same standard used for homicide cases.

“Before this initiative we were at about 10 percent,” Smith added.

The chief also said the department’s seizure rate of crime guns this year has had a high proportion of “ghost guns,” firearms without serial numbers constructed from kits. This follows an overall trend noted by other studies such as the gun trace report conducted last year by anti-firearm violence organization Brady. From 2018 to 2022, the proportion of seized ghost guns has risen from less than 1 percent to 7.8 percent.

Smith also signaled more planned police activity in the downtown’s East End district, including limiting access to only people age 21 and above. Those restrictions will be in place on Saturdays only, from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Last year’s increase in property crime, mainly driven by a dramatic spike in motor vehicle thefts, was largely concentrated in that area of the city.

The Evans administration pointed to additional regulatory powers provided by the Gun Violence State of Emergency, called first in 2022, as key to quick responses. City officials highlighted the closure of nine locations that were identified with links to violent crime as well as three significant nuisance-abatement agreements.

Community outreach was also cited as a highlight in the city’s response to violence. The Department of Recreation and Human Services has begun programs to provide mental health counseling services for youth at four city R-Centers.

As for the community engagement side of the RPD, they held an HBCU classic football game last week, due to the direction of Deputy Chief Keith Stith.

“I can’t say enough that it was Chief Stith’s idea that he brought to the forefront. This was a giant step in the right direction,” Smith said. “We recognize we have to partner with our community to solve crimes and events such as these are an unprecedented step toward building these relationships.

“We can’t solve crime alone, as I’ve said many times before, nor are we going to arrest our way out of the problems our city faces,” he added.

So far in 2024, Rochester has experienced a striking decline in nearly every type of crime.

Property crime, which includes larceny, burglary, and motor vehicle theft, has fallen by 39 percent compared to the same period last year. Much of that decline reflects the sharp drop in car theft incidents (though the total is still much higher than in years prior to 2023).

Violent crime—aggravated assault, robbery and homicide—has had less of a dramatic fall from recent years, but is still down by 2 percent compared to last year. In 2023, the number of robberies fell, but 2024 has seen a return to levels similar to pre-2023.

“(The numbers) show us that our strategies to reduce violence, especially gun violence, are working,” said Evans. “But numbers aren’t the goal. The goal is to make Rochester a safer city where perception matches reality and people not only are safe, but feel safe.”

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