Elmira gunshot calls down 33% so far this year

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – A Freedom of Information request submitted by 18 News shows a 33% decline in gunshot calls in Elmira during the first quarter of 2024, when compared to the same time frame in 2023.

The year-to-year decrease comes after reported gunshots in Elmira more than doubled from 2018 to 2023 . Data shows there were a total of 34 reported gunshots in 2018. There were 75 reported gunshots in 2023.

Public records provided this week by Elmira Police Chief Kristen Thorne show a total of 14 “calls for gun shots” from January 1 through May 13, 2024. That’s down from 21 reported gunshots from January 1 through May 13, 2023.

Of the 14 gunshot calls in 2024, records show 6 were confirmed. 8 were unconfirmed, meaning officers didn’t find victims or any evidence of a shooting, like bullet holes or spent shells.

Of the 21 gunshot calls in 2023 during the same time period, records show 9 were confirmed. 12 were unconfirmed.

So far in 2024, police say the city’s “Westside South” sector has the highest number of gunshots calls at 5. That’s down from 7 gunshot calls during the same time last year.

The city’s “Southside West” sector shows a significant drop in reported gunshots. So far in 2024, there is one reported gunshot. That’s down from 8 reported gunshots during the same time in 2023.

Data also shows a concentration of gunshot calls on the city’s east side. So far in 2024, there were 3 reported gunshots in the “East Southside” sector. That’s up from zero gunshot calls during the same time in 2023.

The “Eastside North” sector reported 3 gunshot calls so far this year. That’s down from 4 gunshot calls during the same time in 2023.

Here is a breakdown of gunshot calls by city sector in 2024, from Jan-May 13.

Eastside North: 4

East Southside: 3

Westside South: 5

Westside North: 0

Southside West: 1

Southside East: 1

Here is a breakdown of gunshot calls by city sector in 2023, from Jan-May 13.

Eastside North: 4

East Southside: 0

Westside South: 7

Westside North: 0

Southside West: 8

Southside East: 2

18 News also requested a breakdown of firearms recovered by the Elmira Police Department so far this year.

Records show 51 firearms were recovered from January 1 through May 13, 2024. They included 21 handguns and 30 long guns.

During the same time frame in 2023, records show police recovered 22 firearms. They included 14 handguns and 8 long guns.

18 News also requested the number shooting and firearm-related arrests made by the Elmira Police Department.

Records show police made 6 firearm-related arrests so far in 2024. Chief Thorne said “there have been no arrests made stemming from shooting incidents.

During the same time frame in 2023, police say there was one shooting incident that led to an arrest. Police say they also made 7 firearm related arrests.

In the summer of 2023, the City of Elmira received a $383,147 state grant for the Gun Involved Violence Elimination Initiative, also known as GIVE . The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services says G.I.V.E. “provides state funding to local law enforcement agencies for equipment, overtime, personnel, as well as focused training and technical assistance.” Elmira PD says the money allowed the detective bureau to hire two investigators to focus full-time on gun crimes.

After an Elmira Police Officer was forced to open fire to defend himself from a charging, aggressive dog on May 7th , we filed a separate request for the number of times EPD officers have opened fire in the last 5 years.

Police say from 2019 to date, there was only one “officer-involved shooting.” It happened August 27th, 2021 at Woodlawn Cemetery. Police say 53-year-old “parole absconder” David Wandell, was shot and killed after police say he pointed what looked like a gun at officers.

A special investigation by the Office of New York Attorney General Letitia James was released just over a year later. The investigation found Wandell was holding an “airsoft pistol.” The report said, “the requisite orange paint on the tip that would have distinguished it from a normal firearm had been removed.”

The investigation concluded that “a prosecutor would not be able to disprove beyond a reasonable doubt at trial that the officers who shot Mr. Wandell were justified.”

As for police opening fire in situations involving animals, the Elmira Police Department told 18 News: “EPD only documents dispatching animals (rabid, severely injured, or aggressive) through an animal complaint report or an admin report. There is no comprehensive list that can be provided.”

You can view the complete data provided by Elmira Police Chief Kristen Thorne below:

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