Peekskill residents who know of an illegal firearm may now report the gun via a tip line, and if the information leads to the discovery of a weapon, a $500 cash reward will be forthcoming, officials say.
The confidential tip line, 914-468-4GUN, is part of Operation Safe Streets, a new program aimed at reducing the number of illegal and illegally-possessed guns in the city.
An illegal firearm is defined as "any pistol, revolver, shotgun having a barrel less than 18 inches, or a rifle having a barrel less than 16 inches, whose possession is in contrary to any section" of the state's Penal Law, or federal statutes, according to a press release from the city.
A gun buy-back day—where no questions are asked—is the second component of Operation Safe Streets. Officials are hoping to hold the event within the next couple of months, but a date has not yet been set.
"We want those guns off the street," Police Chief Eric Johansen said at a recent press conference, where cops presented a slew of illegal weapons collected from crimes over the years. They included assault rifles and pistols. One of the firearms had a silencer.
Johansen said that buy-backs have seen success around the country. Sometimes they yield some "exotic" firearms.
The chief stressed the "no questions asked" policy, adding that unwanted, irresponsibly-owned guns, which are sometimes left by a deceased relative, often end up in the "wrong hands."
"We want to make a safer community and together with our residents we will do that," Johansen said. The guns collected during the buy-back will be destroyed.
Councilman Darren Rigger first suggested the plan to Johnansen and Mayor Mary Foster. He emphasized that the program does not cost the taxpayers, as it runs on donations and asset forfeiture money through the police department.
A May fundraiser at Peekskill's New York Firehouse Grille aimed at garnering $2,500 to "kick start" the program surpassed its goal, thanks to "dozens of Peekskillians giving $25 or $50 each."
The Peekskill Rotary gave $1,000. Other organizations, including The Hudson Valley Museum of Contemporary Art, the Peekskill PBA, the Firehouse Grille and the Peekskill Police Superior Officers Association, gave $250, each. The total exceeded $3,000.
"So literally, the people of Peekskill have invested into this program," Rigger said.
Foster called Operation Safe Streets "a very important initiative to help keep our city safe and to decrease the number of guns that are out there in the community."
"This is just another way to step it up and make sure that we are doing everything we can do to create a very safe environment for both businesses to grow and people to raise their families," she said.
Donations for the program should be made via check to The City of Peekskill. The memo line should read "Operation Safe Streets," and the check may be turned in at city hall (840 Main Street) or at police headquarters (2 Nelson Avenue).
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
