Thirteen of the 44 firearms sized by the Palatka Police Department are displayed in evidence boxes on a table at the Police Department. (PALATKA POLICE DEPARTMENT)
PALATKA (Wednesday, Oct. 11, 2023) – In the past three months, Palatka Police Department officers have responded to and investigated several violent crimes that involved firearms.
Although, in many instances, both suspects and intended victims had fled the area before the officers arrived, multiple pieces of evidence were gathered in cases where firearms were discharged. Officers and detectives have worked hard to conduct interviews, process crime scenes, and canvass the neighborhoods where these incidents occurred.
The staff of the Police Department has worked diligently to end this wave of violent crimes. Efforts in relationship building, mediation, recruiting assistance from local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies, and utilizing other stakeholders in the community have helped reduce these crimes.
Through these efforts, Palatka Police Officers have seized 44 firearms over the last 90 days. The firearms were taken from both adults and juveniles. All the confiscated firearms will be sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement for processing to see if they have been used in other crimes.
Police Chief Jason Shaw stated, "I'm very proud of our officers' hard work and efforts, and I'm very thankful for the assistance from our community, other law enforcement agencies, and our business partners."