New York City Mayor Adams details aggressive plan to combat rising gun violence in city

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has announced his plan to combat a surge of gun violence, which includes more police officers on patrol and confronting the high number of illegal guns being brought into the city.

The plan by Adams, a former New York Police Department captain who took office on Jan. 1, the fatal shooting this past weekend of an NYPD officer who was responding to reports of a domestic incident. The officer, Jason Rivera, was at least the fourth NYPD officer shot this month.

"Gun violence is a public health crisis," Adams, a Democrat, said Monday in announcing the plan. "There is no time to wait. We must act. The sea of violence comes from many rivers. We must dam every river that feeds this greater crisis.

The mayor said that his plan will involve "precision policing," with units focusing on the 30 precincts where 80% of gun violence occurs. It will also expand the anti-violence Crisis Management System to address early indications that gun violence may occur. 

The handgun in the Rivera's death was reported stolen in Baltimore in 2017.

During the first three weeks of the new year, New York City has had a 38% increase in major crimes, compared with the same period last year.

That figure prompted, in part, Adams to announce his plan, which he also says will put more NYPD officers on the streets and have fewer pushing paper.

"We have to stop the flow of guns," he continued. "We are removing thousands of guns off our streets, and it appears as though for every gun we remove from the street, five are coming in. That is unacceptable."

Additionally, Adams says he will be requesting more state and federal resources to assist with his plan, which also includes a revamped "version of modified plainclothes anti-gun unit," the mayor told CNN on Sunday. The unit, which was something Adams discussed during his candidacy, will be on the streets in just a matter of weeks according to the mayor.

Keechant Sewell, the incoming NYPD commissioner, has asked precinct commanders to identify candidates, who will go through specific training, for the modified plainclothes unit that will focus on getting illegal guns off the street.