Some Atlanta City Council members, hoping to deter celebratory gunfire during the holidays, are suggesting police use drones or stake out neighborhoods known for the practice.
In her first appearance before the city council as Atlanta’s top cop, newly appointed Police Chief Erika Shields was quizzed Tuesday on gunfire celebrations during New Year’s Eve.
Residents clogged the city's emergency 911 system Dec. 31, complaining of revelers welcoming 2017 by shooting into the air, according to media reports. Peoplestown was particularly hard hit as residents found dozens of bullet shells in a local park the next day from the gunfire, said city councilwoman Carla Smith, who represents the area.
“I have video that people sent me over the weekend where the guys were just shooting over and over and over,” said Smith. “I hope (the shooters) had their ear protection on.”
Shooting guns to mark the new year is a tradition among some and happens across the country. Police did not respond to a question as to whether this year’s gunfire celebrations were worse than in past years.
Many cities, including Atlanta, classify the activity as a misdemeanor, punishable by a $1,000 fine. Others, such as Los Angeles, have made such celebrations a felony punishable by a year in prison.
This New Year's Eve, a lawmaker in Texas was wounded after a bullet from celebratory gunfire struck him in the head. In 2010, a stray bullet from New Year's Eve gunfire is believed to have killed a 4-year-old DeKalb County boy as he attended a church service.
No one was reported injured from this year’s celebrations.
But Shields told the council it’s difficult to catch perpetrators in the act. They generally scatter as soon as they hear police coming.
“It is something we wrestle with every year,” Shields said. “Some folks don’t even recognize that what goes up has to come down.
“We historically tell our beat officers to park their patrol cars under bridges at the midnight hour,” she added.
Shields, who become chief of police in late December after the retirement of her predecessor George Turner, said the city has tried to educate the public about the dangers of celebratory gunfire through social media, TV, print and radio interviews and outreach to community groups.
“The biggest thing we can do moving forward is have a stronger presence on the community education piece,” she said.
But Councilwoman Keisha Lance Bottoms wondered if the city should go beyond outreach.
“Clearly this is an issue that has gone on for any number of years,” said Bottoms, who added that her uncle was blinded by a bullet during a past holiday celebration.
Smith asked if the problem comes down to economics. She pondered whether, for instance, bullets are cheaper than fireworks.
“I don’t know if they run out of firecrackers and then go get their bullets because they are bored,” Smith said.
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