New Haven police seizing illegal guns

New Haven, Conn (WTNH) - Violence is nothing new on the streets of New Haven, but police have stepped up their efforts to seize illegal guns, which they blame in part for the violence.

Getting guns off the streets is easier said than done, but the New Haven Police Chief Frank Limon says changing their focus has helped. On Tuesday, they showed off the results.

At a press conference, police showed a small sample of 92 guns seized on the streets of New Haven so far this year.

"92 guns are off the streets, and they're out of our neighborhoods. It means that 92 guns are out of the hands of criminals," Chief Limon said.

92 guns, compared to 80 seized in the same period last year. The assistant chief showed us how they're modified to fit more easily into a coat or pants, and hide from police.

But officers are finding them. They credit a renewed focus, and a new task force, working with departments outside the city.

"We find a lot of them were taken in burglaries within Connecticut and our surrounding towns, and they were either being sold or traded for drugs, or something to that effect, in the city of New Haven," Asst. Chief John Velleca said.

The police departments swap info, and even suspects.

"We can say you know, hypothetically, 'We have two 9 millimeters stolen here. Well we just had a shooting with a 9 millimeter. Who's your suspect in the burglary?' Maybe that will lead us to the person who did the shooting," Velleca said.

Four officers are now dedicated to work with ATF, and their K-9 units are trained to sniff out firearms. This is a top priority.

"It sends a message that we'll not tolerate you carrying guns on the street," Mayor John DeStefano said.

But shootings have been rampant. So far, 55 people have been shot this year, 9 of them fatally. The most recent incident last week on Lamberton Street. The last day in April saw three separate shootings, and the West River neighborhood has seen shootings in December, February and April.

Police confirm, a couple of the guns seized were involved in multiple shootings, but they can't say more than that. Only that, they're finding the guns., and those using them.

This is what they confront out on the street, and that's some pretty serious hardware," DeStefano said.

Police say it is most important to report when guns are stolen, either from gun shops or in burglaries, and it is a state law.