NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — During a barrage of violent shootings, a 27-year veteran of the NYPD said gang members have become savvy to the law.
"[An] individual will go 'Tommy got locked up for a gun and he's back out,'" Detective Rick Simplicio, a board member of the Detectives Endowment Association, told 1010 WINS. "'He just got rearrested on another gun [charge] and he's back out. OK, good, that's good to know.'"
Simplicio, who has firsthand experience investigating gun violence for 10 years in the Bronx's 40th Precinct, said gang members have also fueled a spike in shootings.
"We're taking several precincts, we're averaging 60, 70 shootings in a year," he said. "That's just non-fatal shootings." Thirteen people were shot in Simplicio's precinct last year, with gangs even "looking for individuals" to target.
Gang members will carry out these "ops," or operations, to go after their rivals, according to the seasoned detective, and will post their "drill wraps" on social media, where members will frequently brag about who they are going after or spotted.
"They will go live," Simplicio said. "They'll walk into another person's territory and say, "'We're here, where you guys at? If you had any kind of courage .... you better come over'."
He argues that this challenge cannot be ignored.
"They're literally living in a war zone because at any moment these kids see each other, they're taking out cannons and shooting each other," Simplicio added.
According to Simplicio, the city is currently witnessing the innocent being caught in the crossfire of retribution.
Paul DiGiacomo, president of the DEA, argues laws need to be changed to protect innocent victims and their families caught up in these shootings.
"You're not only victimized that day, you carry that burden with you the rest of your life," he said.
DiGiacomo said detectives have recovered over 8,000 guns in the last two years and repeat violent offenders have been arrested.
The two also discussed the use of family court for young offenders found in possession of a weapon, as well as the need for bail reform as one of the many changes that are required.
While the New York Legislature on Monday passed a budget extender to keep the government running until Thursday, bail reform is reportedly one of several issues plaguing the final passage of the $216 billion budget — due last Friday.
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