Cleveland police showed off dozens of guns Tuesday morning that have been confiscated from city streets,
It was just a small portion of the guns collected by the Gang Impact Unit so far this year. In total, police said between the unit, other officers and the buyback program more than a thousand guns are off the streets.
Although murders are up in the city from this time last year, police said they are having success with the Gang Impact Unit. Police explained they were able to stop the violence between two gangs last year. A number of gang members were arrested, charged and sent to jail. The number of shootings in the Fleet/Broadway area are down by 36 percent.
Next month, the department is expected to roll out the NICE, Neighborhood Impact Community Engagement squad. Ten police officers will be assigned to the squad immediately with more to follow.
"One of the biggest components is community policing. When things happen in neighborhoods the people who live there know the players, the victims and what sparked it," said Cleveland Police Chief Calvin Williams.
