Pittsburgh Police Chief Larry Scirotto says the city's new Violence Prevention Unit is making a difference.
Chief Scirotto said, since its inception in February, the VPU has seized 75 firearms, arrested 139 violent offenders and seized close to a quarter of a million dollars in illegal drugs.
Part of the strategy is flexibility.
The unit’s efforts are not focused on just one neighborhood. Instead, the team moves to areas where gun violence increases.
And enforcement is not the only method officers are using.
Chief Scirotto says the unit’s officers are engaging with the community. At a time when the Bureau of Police is coping with a shortage of officers, it’s reassuring to see Scirotto making the most of the available resources.
We look forward to year-end crime statistics and hopefully, a significant decrease in gun violence.
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