There have been 40 shootings so far this year, which has already surpassed the total number of shootings in all of 2023. Photo Credit: Hamilton Police Service.
There have now been 40 shootings in Hamilton so far this year, leading Hamilton Police Service (HPS) to issue yet another press release reassuring the public and asking the community for help with investigations.
HPS previously issued a press release in May, when the city experienced its 22nd shooting of the year, warning that gun violence was on the rise.
In their most recent news release, HPS informed the public that there have been 40 shootings so far this year, which has already surpassed the total number of shootings in all of 2023.
We are only about 60 per cent of the way through 2024.
According to police there were 51 shootings in 2020, 39 in 2021, 45 in 2022 and 35 in 2023.
With the rise in gun violence, HPS reassured that they “understand the gravity” of the situation.
“We are dedicated to addressing these critical issues and ensuring the safety and well-being of our community,” their statement continued.
HPS also outlined some of the actions they have taken to combat gun violence, including making the Shooting Response Team permanent and enhancing community outreach and engagement.
They say their strategy “includes increased patrols in high-risk areas, collaboration with local organizations, and the use of strategic policing partners to track and deter criminal activities.”
Hamilton Police say that they have also “enhanced” their Offender Management Strategy “to focus more intensely on serious repeat violent offenders with firearms.”
That work has led to the confiscation of 260 firearms within the city since January 2024.
Nevertheless, shootings have continued.
As such, police are also emphasizing the importance of the community in keeping the city safe.
HPS says, “We often face challenges due to a lack of witness support, which hampers our investigations. Therefore, we urge all community members to come forward with any information they might have, no matter how small it may seem.”
Hamilton Police Chief Frank Bergen also added a statement of his own within the HPS press release, saying, “Our recent success in seizing firearms and making arrests is a testament to the power of community and police collaboration.”
“It takes the vigilance and courage of our community, paired with the dedication and professionalism of our officers, to keep Hamilton safe. Together, we can make a significant impact in reducing gun violence and ensuring a safer environment for all,” he continued.
As an example of how the community can help police, HPS says that they recently received a call from a concerned community member about an erratic driver on Upper James Street who was speeding and crossing into opposing lanes.
Police conducted a traffic stop which ended in the seizure of “a loaded Glock 26” and “a quantity of crack cocaine.”
Police cited the story as an example of how “a simple call can lead to significant outcomes.”
Anyone with information for police about any of the city’s shootings is asked to call 905-546-4883 or email shootingresponseteam@hamiltonpolice.ca.
Police also remind the public that they can provide information anonymously by contacting Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submitting a tip online at www.crimestoppershamilton.com.
Based in Hamilton, he reaches hundreds of thousands of people monthly on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. He has been published in The Hamilton Spectator, Stoney Creek News, and Bay Observer. He has also been a segment host with Cable 14 Hamilton. In 2017, he received the Chancellor Full Tuition Scholarship from the University of Ottawa (BA, 2022). He has also received the Governor General’s Academic Medal. He formerly worked in a non-partisan role on Parliament Hill in Ottawa.
