By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – Coming off the city’s safest year in a decade, Bloomington Police say the seizure of five illegal handguns in recent weeks will make 2016 even safer.
Bloomington Police spokeswoman Sara Mayer told WJBC’s Susan Saunders one of the weapons was used in a burglary and another in a car break-in, while the others involved drug crimes.
“Three of the investigations stem from VICE investigations into cocaine sales and from those investigations we got these guns as well,” Mayer said.
Mayer said getting these guns off the streets will reduce the likelihood of gun violence. There were 15 reports of gunfire involving juveniles in Bloomington last year.
“These juveniles were involved with local hybrid gangs, so when we were getting these guns, we are getting them off of gang members we’ve got them off of those 17 and under, actually on their person,” Mayer said. “Hopefully we are preventing future injuries or even homicides.”
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
