FMPD removes more guns from city streets
The Fort Myers Police Department is continuing its crackdown on people who illegally carry firearms through Operation Safe Neighborhood, a proactive approach to reducing crime and improve the quality of life in the community. Undercover vice and uniformed patrol removed 18 guns from city streets during the month of April.
The goal of Operation Safe Neighborhood is to identify and arrest people that commit violent crimes and to arrest individuals who illegally possess firearms. In addition to gun interdiction, the directed patrols have had positive results. In April, officers made 580 citizen contacts, 315 traffic stops, 91 traffic tickets, 62 arrests and 33 felony charges.
Chief Doug Baker unveiled the operation to several community leaders last year and said the anticrime effort couldn’t be possible without a partnership with the community.
“The unit is enhanced by intelligence information from concerned citizens and informants. Tipsters can remain anonymous. Every illegal gun taken off our streets is one less gun that can be used against an innocent citizen, gun down an officer or carelessly end up in the hands of a child.”
So far this year, FMPD officers have removed 113 guns from city streets.