A year after the NYPD announced an initiative combating loosely affiliated gangs, homicide rates among young people in the city have declined significantly.
Since the implementation of the Police Department’s “Operation Crew Cut,” crime statistics show that murders among people ages 13 to 21 have fallen 50.6 percent from 87 to 43 through November 24, NYPD Commissioner Ray Kelly said Monday.
“Strategic enforcement and proactive policing combined with strong prosecutorial partnerships, including attention to the new battleground of social media, has resulted in lives being saved in New York City, mostly young minority men.” Kelly said. “Additionally, shootings and homicides citywide, regardless of victim age, are down 21 percent on top of 2012’s record lows.”
About one-third of New York City shootings in 2011 were committed by young people “motivated by geographic turf or other street crew rivalry,” according to the Police Department.
According to the NYPD, since Operation Crew Cut was established last October, police and prosecutors have conducted 25 investigations throughout city, resulting in more than 400 crew members indicted for crimes, which included murder, assault, robbery and weapon possession.
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