NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (WBEN) - Twelve people were arrested in Niagara Falls on Tuesday night in a city-wide police operation to address the high crime incidents over the last two years.
Two people were charged with weapons possession. Their names have not been released. Five illegal guns were seized, 13 warrants were executed, 107 traffic tickets were issued, and several drugs were taken. The drugs could lead to more charges.
Officials said during a news conference on Wednesday the exercise was done to take the "bad actors" off the streets.
"While we have worked toward trying to bring additional security to the community, we are also sensitive to the need to remember social justice requirements," Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino said. "These police agencies have worked in trying to balance the two in a way that can help Niagara Falls and eliminate some of the difficulties that it has had over the last couple of months.
240 law enforcement contacts were used the crime operation, 85 of which were uniformed officers from several departments including the Niagara County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police, Town of Niagara Police, Lewiston Police, Lockport Police, and other local departments.
It's unknown how many of the 12 people, if any, were released from the state's bail reform laws. However, Restaino on Wednesday called for changes to the reforms.
"There were things to come out of the criminal justice and bail reforms that were good, appropriate, and necessary," Restaino said. "There are, however, some elements that like any other proposal for reform, should be re-examined for the purposes of their impact on their ability to maintain safe streets in communities all across New York State. I have had several private conversations with law enforcement members...about the difficulty in terms of even getting cooperation from the community. There are disclosure requirements by law enforcement agencies and district attorney's offices that really put witnesses at a decided disadvantage with regard to their own safety, in some respects. Those are the things I think need to be re-examined."
Niagara Falls Police Superintendent John Faso said shootings this year are slightly above the number from 2020.
"We do hotspots on a bi-weekly basis," Faso said. "We identify the hotspots in the area and we focus on that. Last night, we had the manpower where we could spread out throughout the city. People don't stay in one place so we had that luxury last night."
