Crime & Safety
Brooklyn Sees Lowest Murder Rate Since 1963
During the NYPD's first gun buyback of the year, Police Commissioner Kelly said murders in the borough fell below 200 in 2011.
Over 100 firearms were surrendered to the NYPD during at the Bedford Central Presbyterian Church in Crown Heights on Saturday.
Brooklyn residents turned over a total of 108 guns at the church, located on Nostrand Avenue and Dean Street. Of the guns, 61 were revolvers, 29 were semi-automatics, three were rifles, two were shotguns and 13 were other kinds of firearms. Seven were loaded.
The NYPD/Clergy Gun Buy-Back program, which has been running since 2008, has helped remove 7,600 weapons from the streets.
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Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly said Brooklyn is now safer, and he has statistics to prove it.
Commissioner Kelly, at the Dean Street church, said Brooklyn has seen the lowest murder rate since 1963, with a count of 195 homicides in 2011.
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In the 78th Precinct, which covers Park Slope, there were no murders in 2011. There have been no murders so far in 2012
"Murders in Brooklyn fell to below 200, to 195, for the first time in nearly a half-century in part because of concerted efforts to get guns off the streets in partnerships like these," Commissioner Kelly stated on Saturday after speaking with Brooklynites and policemen at the Crown Heights church.
Kelly said that the program had "critical support from District Attorney Charles Hynes, the Brooklyn clergy and borough residents."
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