Subject: Police Director's Statement on Rumors of Gang Violence

In response to the recent surge of false text messages and emails relative gang initiations and random acts of violence Police Director Garry McCarthy issued the following statement.

"I am perplexed and outraged at the baseless and irresponsible rumors of random gang violence that have been circulating throughout the Greater Newark area. For the past several years these type of rumors have circulated during the Halloween season and this year has been no exception. Unfortunately this year's rumors comes on the heels of a rare shooting spree here in Newark. The Newark Police Department conducted a swift and thorough investigation into those incidents arresting the suspects responsible within 12 hours. These isolated and unfortunate incidents were not random acts but instead targeted shootings by a pair of individuals both of whom are currently being held under $1 million dollar bails.

The facts on the steady and significant decline in violent crime that have thrust Newark into one of the nation's leaders in violent crime reduction should be circulating throughout the community. It is vital that as we continue to prevent and reduce violent crime that we not allow false and unfounded perceptions to infect our City's progress."