Ahead of Thursday’s crime report for the first half of 2023, NYPD executives told amNewYork Metro that New York’s Finest are striving to combat the onslaught of gun-violence in the Big Apple through a long-term, preventative response that gives at-risk youth summer jobs within the force.
The summer is off to a bloody start, with a 15-year-old being among those shot to death while a 5-year-old and a 12-year-old were left injured, just over the last several weeks alone. Although shooting statistics suggest that violence has declined this year, the public perception over public safety has not been bolstered by the numbers. This is being made more dire by the gang recruitment of teen trigger pullers.