Page 15 - Florida Sentinel 10-2-15 Edition

Local
Law Enforcement Partnership Targets Violent Crime
BY IRIS B. HOLTON
Sentinel City Editor
In 2014, 714 firearms were reported stolen to the Tampa Police Department, Hillsbor- ough County Sheriff’s Office and St. Petersburg Police De- partment. So far, this year, that number has already reached 588.
And, it appears that the thefts of firearms have a direct correlation to violent crimes. This calendar year, there have been 56 violent deaths in Hills- borough County. The majority of those deaths were as a result of guns.
The spike in violent crimes has caused the Tampa Police Department to enter into a partnership with ATF, (Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, & Explo- sives) a federal law enforce- ment agency. This partnership provides additional resources for law enforcement to utilize.
So far this year, the Tampa Police Department has investi- gated the deaths of 29 people that have been classified as vio- lent by law enforcement. Of those deaths, statistics show that 2 of those victims were age 14; 2 were age 16; and 2 were age 18.
Those victims are: Life Coleman, 18; Ikeim Boswell, 16; Jamylin Turner, 16; Richard New-
ton, 14; Edward Harris, 14; and Eion Gustitis, 18.
Tampa Police Chief Eric Ward said, “No family should have to go through the painful process of laying their loved one to rest because of senseless acts of gun violence. Aside from investigating around the clock to bring grieving families jus- tice, we are working behind the
scenes to keep illegal guns off the streets and out of the wrong hands.
“Our relationship with ATF is a key part of this aggressive plan to reduce gun violence. ATF brings an added amount of personnel and resources to the table, which benefits our agency and the city as a whole.”
Mayor Bob Buckhorn
said, “We are partnering with local, state, and federal law en- forcement to get the guns off the street and target violent predators that caused and cre- ated a lot of problems.
“We are taking responsibil- ity for getting the bad guys off the street and we’re taking re- sponsibility to reduce violent crimes. As a result of this part-
nership, our communities are a lot safer.”
Mayor Buckhorn further stated that the partnership will provide more tools to work with and that, “We’re hitting them with everything we’ve got. We’re going to throw the book at them to get them off the street.”
Regina Lombardo,
Tampa Special Agent In Charge, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives said, “We’ve partnered with TPD to find the sources of guns flowing into high crime areas and re- move individuals that use a gun to commit a violent crime.
“I believe it is also the re- sponsibility of all gun owners to safeguard their firearms. Leav- ing a loaded or unloaded gun in a car or any area within a house is the potential formula for something to happen. Safely lock and secure your guns and also record the information so if it’s taken, you can provide this information to law enforce- ment.”
The Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office has investigated 25 violent deaths, of which 3 victims were under the age of 21.
Law enforcement in Plant City has investigated 2 deaths this year, and Temple Terrace has also investigated 2 violent deaths this year.
LIFE COLEMAN Age 18, died January 5 Remains Unsolved
RICHARD NEWTON Age 14, died March 21 Remains Unsolved
IKEIM BOSWELL Age 16, died March 14 Ruled Accidental
EDWARD HARRIS Age 14, died May 31
JAMYLIN TURNER Age 16, died March 14 Remains Unsolved
EION GUSTITIS
Age 18, died September 6 Remains Unsolved
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2015 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 3-B