Kalamazoo police say arrests and gun-amnesty program reduced youth shootings after July 4 weekend

Kalamazoo Public Safety reported that an enforcement and outreach operation after a spate of July 4 shootings led to 10 arrests and the seizure of 10 firearms, and officials said youth shootings have declined since the response.

Chief Dave Boysen told the City Commission on July 21 that investigators and outreach staff identified a small group of youths driving much of the recent violence and ‘‘were able to make 10 arrests, seize 10 firearms.’’ He said many of those arrested were ages 15 to 19 and that the department worked with the Kalamazoo County Prosecutor’s Office to obtain high cash bonds and lodge suspects in juvenile custody.

Boysen said the department also is promoting a gun amnesty program run in partnership with area churches and pastors, where residents can turn in firearms ‘‘no questions asked.’’ He said the city has received more than 10 guns through that program, and he encouraged parents who find weapons in their homes to use the service.

The chief framed the response as a mix of enforcement and prevention. ‘‘A lot of it was driven by youth and young, young offenders,’’ he said. ‘‘We were going to do an enforcement action and work hard to identify those individuals who are involved and basically all hands on deck, doing extra patrols, reassignments to address, the violence.’’

Commissioner John Cooney praised the department’s work and emphasized prevention as a priority, saying, ‘‘I’ve heard you say time and again that the emphasis is always on prevention. Yes. We will help you if you let us. We will stop you if you make us.’’ Other commissioners described community programs — Police Athletic League, midnight basketball and street outreach — as parts of the prevention effort.

City staff and commissioners said the department will continue both enforcement and outreach through the summer. Chief Boysen said adult-involved shootings occurred the weekend before the meeting and that officers continued follow-up work.

Why it matters: City officials described the arrests as intended to calm a sharp, short-lived increase in youth gun incidents and said removing weapons from homes and engaging youth through programs are both needed to sustain the reduction in violence.

What’s next: The chief said the department will continue extra patrols and outreach and encouraged parents to use the church-run gun amnesty. No new formal policy was adopted at the meeting.