The Hamilton Police Service understands the gravity of the recent rise in gun-related crimes in our city. We are dedicated to addressing these critical issues and ensuring the safety and well-being of our community.
Community Involvement
We cannot emphasize enough the importance of community involvement in making our city safer. Yesterday, we received a call from a concerned community member about an erratic driver on Upper James Street. This individual reported a vehicle speeding and repeatedly crossing into oncoming lanes for an extended distance on Upper James Street. Thanks to this vigilant community member, our officers were able to safely conduct a traffic stop at Fennell Avenue. Upon approaching the vehicle, officers detected a strong odour of marijuana and observed the driver exhibiting nervous behaviour. The driver then admitted to having a handgun in his pocket. As a result, a loaded Glock 26 was seized, along with a quantity of crack cocaine and scales found in the vehicle.
This incident underscores the vital role that community members play in enhancing safety. It highlights how a simple call can lead to significant outcomes, demonstrating that it truly takes everyone coming together to make a difference. The dedication and quick action of our officers, combined with the proactive involvement of our community, continue to make our streets safer.
Chief Frank Bergen
“Our recent success in seizing firearms and making arrests is a testament to the power of community and police collaboration. It takes the vigilance and courage of our community, paired with the dedication and professionalism of our officers, to keep Hamilton safe. Together, we can make a significant impact in reducing gun violence and ensuring a safer environment for all.”
– Chief Frank Bergen
Our Actions to Combat Gun Violence
We have recently made our dedicated Shooting Response Team a permanent fixture within our Service. This team is specifically trained and equipped to respond swiftly and effectively to incidents involving firearms. Their presence has already made a significant impact, and we are confident that their continued efforts will contribute to reducing gun-related crimes in Hamilton.
Last week, our efforts led to the successful seizure of multiple firearms on the Hamilton Mountain. You can read more about this investigation in our recent News Release.
In addition to the work of our Shooting Response Team, we are enhancing our community outreach and engagement initiatives. We are committed to fostering stronger relationships with community members and leaders to gather crucial information that can help prevent crimes before they occur. Our strategy includes increased patrols in high-risk areas, collaboration with local organizations, and the use of strategic policing partners to track and deter criminal activities.
Enhanced Offender Management Strategy
Furthermore, we have enhanced our Offender Management strategy to focus more intensely on serious repeat violent offenders with firearms. The recent C-48 Bail Reform, which came into effect this year, has provided us with additional tools to manage these offenders more effectively, ensuring that those who pose the greatest risk to our community are kept off the streets.
Community Involvement and Provincial Support
Addressing gun violence requires the active involvement of our entire community. This effort starts with engaging at-risk youth early in their lives, providing positive role models, and steering them away from a life of crime. We often face challenges due to a lack of witness support, which hampers our investigations. Therefore, we urge all community members to come forward with any information they might have, no matter how small it may seem. By working together and sharing information, we can make a significant difference. Anyone with information can contact the police directly or provide tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
In addition, the Province of Ontario has been actively collaborating with us to address this issue. Funding and resources have been allocated to support our initiatives, and we are working closely with provincial policing partners to ensure that our community has the necessary tools and support to combat gun violence effectively.
Transparency and Accountability
For your reference, here are the numbers of shootings in Hamilton over the past five years:
- 2020: 51 shootings
- 2021: 39 shootings
- 2022: 45 shootings
- 2023: 35 shootings
- 2024: We are currently at 40 shootings
We understand the importance of transparency and accountability, and we are committed to keeping you informed about the steps we are taking and the progress we are making. Since January 2024, members of our Service have taken 260 firearms off our city streets.
Contact Information
Together, we can make Hamilton a safer place for everyone. Our Public Affairs team is always available for any inquiries you may have. They can be reached at 905-546-4901 or [email protected].