More than 30 weapons seized in less than 2 months with help of VIP

YOUNGSTOWN

The police department has seized more than 30 guns since it began Violence Interruption Patrols about a month and a half ago.

Statistics released Tuesday that are updated through June 1 show that officers working the detail have seized 36 illegal guns so far. That number includes weapons seized by all officers, not just VIP officers.

VIP patrol members also have made 90 arrests on 155 various charges and have written 134 citations, said Capt. Kevin Mercer, who is helping to head up the patrols.

The patrols use a mixture of officers from various agencies such as U.S. marshals, the Adult Parole Authority, the Violent Crimes Task Force, the Mahoning County Sheriff’s Office, the Juvenile Probation office and other agencies to patrol areas where statistics show there has been a lot of crime, especially where firearms were used.

The Mahoning County prosecutor’s office and federal prosecutors for the U.S. Northern District Court of Ohio also are taking part in the program by deciding if someone arrested should face state or federal charges. For some offenses, such as weapons offenses, federal sentences are stricter.

Read the complete story in Wednesday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.