RyeCity REVIEW THE
February 4, 2022 | Vol. 10, Number 5 | www.ryecityreview.com
Over 100 guns seized in Westchester and Putnam
Garnets gear up!
Audrey Porter takes a shot against Sleepy Hollow on Jan. 26, 2022. Porter scored a team-high 21 points in the Garnetsâ 66-60 victory over the Horsemen. For story, see page 16. Photo/Mike Smith
State flies flags at half-staff for NYPD officers killed Gov. Kathy Hochul ordered flags on state buildings to be flown at half-staff on Jan. 28 in honor of fallen NYPD officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora. Flags were lowered to half-staff at sunrise on Jan. 28, the day of officer Riveraâs funeral service, and returned to full-staff at sunset on Feb. 2, following officer Moraâs funeral service. âThe losses of Officer Rivera and Officer Mora are felt widely and deeply by all New York-
ersâmy thoughts are with their families and loved ones,â Hochul said. âToday we mourn as they are laid to rest, but tomorrow we must work to eradicate the epidemic gun violence has become in our communities. We must get to the root of this issue to prevent tragedies like this from happening. New Yorkers deserve elected officials that will work for them to solve this problem and that is exactly what they will get.â (Submitted)
More than 100 weapons were seized and 11 persons were arrested last week following a sixmonth multi-agency investigation into âghost gunsâ and other illegal firearms in Westchester and Putnam counties. Search warrants were executed Tuesday, Jan. 25, at eight locations in Westchester and Putnam by investigators from county, local and federal law enforcement agencies. Rifles, handguns, âghost gunsâ and high-capacity drum magazines were seized. Some of the weapons lacked a serial numberâmaking them so-called ghost gunsâand other weapons had defaced serial numbers. Several silencers, ballistic vests, counterfeit police shields and quantities of ammunition were also seized in the probe, dubbed Operation Casper by investigators. The high-capacity drum magazines that were seized are of a similar type to the one used in the murders of two New York City police officers last week. âAs we prepare to pay our final respects to Officer Jason Rivera tomorrow and his partner Officer Wilbert Mora next week, we are reminded of the dangers of illegal guns, not just in New York City,â County Executive George Latimer said on Jan .27. âThis proactive, collaborative effort brings together law enforcement and prosecutorial leaders beyond Westchester to combat the dis-
tribution and purchase of illegal guns. It is our moral responsibility to work together to reduce the availability of these weapons and keep our communities safe.â Public Safety Commissioner Thomas A. Gleason thanked all the agencies with personnel assigned to the Real Time Crime center for their roles in the successsful investigation. âWorking collaboratively with our law enforcement partners is a critical way we keep Westchester safe,â Gleason said. The investigation was launched in June 2021 when police departments in Westchester, along with the Westchester County District Attorneyâs Office and the FBI, created a task force to address an influx of ghost guns and other illegal firearms into the Westchester County region. Detectives in the multi-agency Real Time Crime Center, RTC, were tasked with finding innovative ways to reduce gun crimes and prevent violence. These detectives were assisted by the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, NYPD, Putnam County Sheriffâs Office and the Rockland County DAâs office. Prosecutors from Westchester County District Attorneyâs Office and the Southern District of New York provided guidance and case support as specific targets and locations were identified. GUNS continued on page 10
STILL PERPLEXED OVER COVID?
Gov. Kathy Hochul flew flags on state buildings at half-staff on Jan. 28 in honor of fallen NYPD officers Jason Rivera and Wilbert Mora.
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