New Orleans Police Department forms unit to focus on gun violence

The New Orleans Police Department announced Monday the formation of a new unit that will be focused on fighting gun crime in the city.

At a news conference Monday, NOPD Police Superintendent Michael Harrison said a new arm of the Tactical Intelligence Gathering Enforcement Response Team, which was originally focused on armed robberies, will now be “designed to go after people who are committing gun violence, namely our shootings.”

The unit will be comprised of eight officers and a sergeant and will be part of the NOPD’s Special Operations Division.

“We are coming for everyone who wants to carry illegal guns and to use those illegal guns to cause harm to our citizens and our visitors,” Harrison said.

“I want to send a strong message,” Harrison continued, “we are coming for you.”

According to the Times-Picayune, there have been 38 homicides so far this year in New Orleans. In 2016, the city had a higher homicide rate than Chicago.

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