The number of shooting incidents and gun-related homicides in New York City has risen for two straight years, according to police officials. There have been a total of 439 reported shootings through Sunday this year, which is 9 percent higher than the same period in 2014 and about 20 percent more than in 2013, the New York Police Department (NYPD) revealed on Monday, according to the New York Post.
This would be the first time since the 1990s that the city has seen an increase in shooting incidents for two consecutive years. The NYPD also released data that shows that out of the total 135 homicide incidents this year, 98 involved a gun as opposed to just 69 last year.
"When we're talking about murder and shootings, we're talking about people's lives," said NYPD chief James O'Neill, according to the New York Post story. "These aren't just numbers. And that's what our business is about—saving lives."
O'Neill said that the department would not be taking the spike in numbers lightly and is determined to put an end to gun-related crimes in the city. The NYPD will deploy 330 police officers to carry out special patrols in order to keep up with the crime, according to the Washington Times.
The NYPD used a similar strategy last year to fight the increase in shootings and other crimes during the hotter months. As opposed to last year, this year's police patrols will be starting next week, a month earlier.
