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Home > Leadership > Mayor > Archive Press Releases > 2006 Archives > September 2006 > MAYOR BROWN ANNOUNCES OPERATION STRIKE FORCE

MAYOR BROWN ANNOUNCES OPERATION STRIKE FORCE


Source/Contact
Office of the Mayor
Peter K. Culter
Director of Communications
716-851-4841

Mayor, Police Commissioner Announce Special Unit Targeting Gangs/Guns

(View Strike Force Unit Mission - PDF)
 
BUFFALO —Mayor Byron W. Brown and Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson today announced the formation of a special Police Department unit, functioning as Operation Strike Force that is designed to target and eliminate areas of high crime.
 
The unit, rotating police officers from the city’s five police districts and all Flex officers, has been functioning since mid-August throughout the city. The unit’s focus has been on gang-related activity, the removal of illegal guns and illegal drugs.
 
Mayor Brown and Commissioner released statistics of the Strike Force unit’s activities to date (see attached).
 
“In thirty days, the Operation Strike Force unit has had a tremendous impact on criminal activity, especially gang-related activity,” said Mayor Brown. “We intend to continue to move the Strike Force unit to specific areas of city, based on criminal activity. This is an important and successful effort to reduce crime, eliminate gang violence, remove illegal guns and illegal drugs from our city streets and support the majority of law abiding citizens.”
 
In March, Mayor Brown introduced the city’s Zero Tolerance Law Enforcement Initiative, which targeted quality of life criminal offenses. The activities of the Operation Strike Force unit are an outgrowth of that initiative, working to identify and eliminate criminal activity, particularly gang activity, in specific city neighborhoods.
 
“I commend the excellent police work of the men and women of the Strike Force,” said Police Commissioner Gipson. “In just thirty days, their coordinated efforts have sent a clear message to those that would disrupt the lives of our city residents. As the unit’s activities continue there will be a continuing improvement to these neighborhood’s quality of life and a very damaging effect on gang activities.”
 
The mission of Operation Strike Force is to identify and target gang members; target and eliminate high crime areas in the city; remove illegal guns and illegal drugs; strictly enforce the Zero Tolerance Law Enforcement Initiative; and improve the city’s quality of life.
 
“The unit’s success, as seen in the number of arrests, guns confiscated, vehicles seized and other related factors, is an encouraging sign for all law abiding residents,” said Mayor Brown. “Criminals, whether their gang members or not, should be aware that we are determined to end their illegal and disruptive activities.”
 
Mayor Brown acknowledged the important cooperation and support of the Police Benevolent Association in the formation and operation of the Strike Force unit.