KINGSTON – Following the latest violence in Kingston that including a stabbing on Saturday and gunfire on Sunday, city, Ulster County, and state law enforcement have announced a crackdown on crime.
Over the next 10 weeks, Kingston Police, State Police, the Ulster County Sheriff’s Office and District Attorney, as well as other partners, will be focusing a coordinated effort to prevent future violence as well as investigate current crimes.
“We are doing everything we can to instill a sense of safety back in our community for all of our residents,” said Mayor Steven Noble. “Breaking the cycle of drugs and violence must be a twofold approach in which we continue to build dialogue with the community and also demand that violence and drugs have no place.”
Common Council Public Safety Committee Chairman Tony Davis said the community must band together to stop the violence.
“The bottom line is we have to stop this violence that is going on in Kingston for whatever reason and get back to making our community and our city safe for people who want to live and here come and visit,” he said.
“We are asking for all available resources to keep everyone in our community safe and to help us close the ongoing investigations,” said Chief Egidio Tinti. “Our department is well equipped, but the number of incidents has overwhelmed our resources. Having the additional assistance will mean more officers for increased street presence and the behind the scenes investigations.”
DA David Clegg said the situation requires “an all-hands-on-deck approach to stop gun violence and drug trafficking in our community.” He said his office is committed to “target the small number of offenders responsible for these crimes.”
