FRESNO POLICE DEPARTMENT NEWS RELEASE:
Andrew Hall
Chief of Police
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Andrew Hall
Chief of Police
Wednesday, October 7, 2020
Chief Andrew Hall is announcing the formation of a city-wide violent crime suppression task force. The implementation of $0 bail, state-wide early release from prisons, and revolving doors at our local jail has caused this city’s violent crime to more than double from previous years.
In the month of September alone, our community has suffered 104 shooting incidents and 12 murders. Since $0 bail and early releases were i
mplemented in April, Fresno has seen a 126 % increase in shootings and 55 % increase in murders. This lack of accountability has caused a surge in gang activity in our City. The Fresno Police Department has identified 80% of the homicides this year to be gang motivated. Chief Hall and District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp have met with our state and federal law enforcement partners to develop a coordinated effort towards impacting violent crime in our city. We will be using every tool at our disposal to hold those accountable for the violence in our community. This will include high visibility patrols in our crime stricken neighborhoods and federal prosecution for specific gun crimes. Chief Hall stated that we can no longer afford to wait for elected state officials to take action.
Click to listen to the report by KMJ’s Liz Kern:
