Yonkers Fights Gang Violence

By DWAYNE MCBEAN

Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano and Police Commissioner John Mueller on Thursday announced the deployment of an initiative to combat the growing menace of “gang-related,” activity in the city.

“After recent acts of violence in pockets of the city, I’ve asked our police department to organize a comprehensive approach to target the crime that have led to vicious acts,” said Spano. “We will laser focus on these wayward individuals who inflict harm on each other and our community.”

He did not name any specific gangs.

The city has been experiencing several gang disputes leading to shootings and the homicide of 27-year-old Javon Merrill in the Ashburton Avenue corridor October 27. In an effort to reduce gun violence and crime, police identified key areas where the violence is the highest to begin such tactics as deploying the Yonkers Police Department’s Mobile Command Center, increased law enforcement presence, increased surveillance and engagement with local and federal law enforcement partners.

“Gun violence and gang activity has no place in our communities,” said Mueller, “and I want our residents to know that the Yonkers Police Department is committed to deploying every resource, new technologies and strategies to stop those who perpetrate these crimes.”

Some of Yonkers Police tactics to combat increasing group violence will include but not limited to:

24-hour recall of a Gang Unit detective to all confirmed shooting incidents involving a group-violence member to provide intelligence and centralize information gathering.
Increased collaboration with the Yonkers Public Schools system to identity and intervene in youth group-violence issues prior to escalation.
Yonkers Police Gang Unit collaboration with the Westchester County Police Department, the Westchester County DA’s office, departments of Probation and Parole, and the FBI and ATF.
Use the resources of the newly established Crime Control Strategies Division, including two full-time crime analysts and precision policing data analysis.

Both Spano and Mueller referred to the plan as a “wholistic approach.” “We will not tolerate senseless acts of violence in our neighborhoods where responsible and hard-working individuals are trying to raise their families in a safe environment,” said Mueller.

According to Mayor Spano, there has been a “30% increase of gang violence and gang shootings year over year.” In 2020, group violence has accounted for 57% of shootings in Yonkers. However, compared to other cities in New York, Yonkers has the least amount of gun homicides in 2020 so far. Overall violent crimes are down 7% in Yonkers, and down 12% compared to a three-year average.

“My message here to the Yonkers residents is we want you to be safe in your community…” said Spano. “We want you to know that we are taking action to make sure that those who would make you feel unsafe are plucked from this community.”