Police say over 200 guns expected to be seized in Providence this year

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — Providence police released their mid-year crime report Tuesday.

Police reported 15 shootings in the first six months of 2022, down from 25 in the first half of last year.

“Every time those numbers decline, those are real people who don’t have to suffer,” Mayor Jorge Elorza said.

There have been four homicides in the city this year so far, down 10 from the first half of 2021.

“We’re laser-focused on gun violence, and we’ve done a good job. But that could change tonight,” Providence Police Col. Hugh Clements Jr. said. 

The number of homicides and robberies has also trended downwards, according to police.

The city has seen 65% fewer robberies, and burglaries are down 78% since 2011, police said.

Public Safety Commissioner Steven M. Paré and Clements discussed the city’s ongoing efforts to tackle crime and remove firearms from the city’s streets, saying 134 guns have been seized off the street in the first half of this year.

Clements said that number is expected to surpass last year’s total of 210. A total of 26 recent gun arrests have been made.