NEWBURGH – With the recent increase in street-level gun violence, the Newburgh City Police Department plans to create a multi-agency task force.
Police Commissioner Jose Gomerez outlined the plan for the two-month test program to the city council Thursday night.
He said 10 agencies would participate, including the State Police, Orange County Sheriff’s Office, and ATF, all at no cost to the city. The only expense would be for city officer overtime.
Gomerez said traffic enforcement will be a major component of this effort.
“These guns are at the street level. They are not happening inside houses, they are not happening at anyone’s home or apartment,” he said. “Those guns are going to be in vehicles, those guns are going to be on people’s person,” he said. “Yes, we are going to make traffic stops and yes, the majority perhaps are going to be Hispanic and black because those are the hotspots of the city.”
The city council is expected to approve the plan at its Monday night session. Gomerez said if it is effective, he would like to see the task force continue on a permanent basis.
