Phoenix Police report decrease in celebratory gunfire on New Year’s
Jan 6, 2016, 5:00 AM
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
(AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
PHOENIX — Celebratory gunfire on New Year’s Eve is becoming less of a problem in Phoenix.
There continues to be a steady decline in the number of shots fired calls for service received by Phoenix police during the holiday.
“Specifically about the time period between 11:30 p.m. and 12:30 a.m. from December 31 and January 1,” Phoenix Police Sgt. Vince Lewis said. “That is a half hour immediately preceding and then following midnight when the New Year’s celebration really kicks off.”
Lewis said the number was much higher before Shannon’s Law was passed in 1999 after the death of a young Phoenix girl who was hit by a falling bullet while in her backyard.
This past year there was an 18.4 percent decrease in shots fired calls for service during the hour time frame compared to last year’s holiday.
“We are looking at 169 shots fired calls for service as compared to 207 calls last year,” Lewis said.
Lewis credited the work of officers who went door to door spreading the word about the dangers of celebratory gunfire during New Year’s leading up to the holiday.
