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Mayor Brown Announces Weekend Police Wrap Up

Information Includes Special Police Activity in Chippewa Entertainment District, Mobile Response Unit Report and Homicide Arrest

BUFFALO – Mayor Byron W. Brown and Police Commissioner H. McCarthy Gipson today provided a briefing of Buffalo Police Department activities over the holiday weekend that included the deployment of extra police personnel and technology to the Chippewa Entertainment District, which had been announced last Thursday, January 17, 2008.

“I am pleased to report that the Buffalo Police Department engaged in very little activity over the weekend in the Chippewa Entertainment District, which is a clear sign that our message of zero tolerance was heard loud and clear,” said Mayor Brown. “And I want to repeat that this police activity was not a one-time only action.  We will continue to deploy public safety resources to ensure that law abiding citizens can come into the Entertainment District and enjoy themselves without any fear of unacceptable criminal behavior.”

The Chippewa Entertainment District Public Safety Plan included the deployment of the Buffalo Police Department’s highly successful Mobile Response Unit, the utilization of the Department’s new mobile surveillance security camera and the continuing monitoring and investigation of area businesses for compliance with city ordinances and state laws.

In addition, to the Chippewa Entertainment District activity, the Buffalo Police Department’s Mobile Response Unit (MRU) made 32 arrests on Saturday, January 19th between activities on the city’s East and West Sides.  Eight guns were seized, along with 4 ounces of heroin and $24,036 in cash (see summary below).  In addition, MRU officers, working in connection Narcotics detectives, executed a search warrant at 506 Fargo that netted the seizure of 5 handguns, 2 assault rifles, 1 shotgun and a large amount of crack cocaine.

“When we state that we will enforce a zero tolerance law enforcement policy, we mean it,” said Commissioner Gipson.  “It may take a awhile for some of the bad actors on the streets to fully appreciate what we have done and will continue to do, but I want the residents of Buffalo and visitors coming into the city to know that we mean business and we will not relax our effort to combat crime, arrest criminals and put them in jail.”

In North Buffalo, on January 20^th, D-District police officers, assisted by Narcotics detectives, investigating a complaint of narcotics activity at 307 Colvin Officers arrested Alex Gonzalez. The suspect was found to be in possession of over 19oz of cocaine, a loaded 45 cal handgun, a shotgun and 32,020 in cash.

“This arrest in North Buffalo was a direct result of a citizen complaint,” said Mayor Brown. “This outcome demonstrates that law abiding city residents can safely convey confidential information that will lead to the arrest, prosecution and jailing of criminals.  I want everyone in the city to know that we depend on this type of information to help keep our neighborhoods safe and our residents free of the negative impact of crime.”

In addition to the MRU and other Department police activity, Buffalo Police Homicide Detectives on January 19^th charged one David Dixon, B/M, DOB 1-6-88 of Jamestown, NY with two counts of Murder in the 2^nd degree for the murder of Joseph Kuhn. The homicide took place on February 3, 2007 at 44 Leamington St in South Buffalo. At this time the investigation is on going and no further comment will be made.