Nassau DA creates Firearms Suppression and Intelligence Unit to crack down on illegal guns

Their focus will be to prevent firearms from making their way to Long Island through what is referred to as the "Iron Pipeline" and to prevent ghost guns from getting in the hands of criminals.

News 12 Staff

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Mar 10, 2022, 7:53 PM

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Updated 990 days ago

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There is a new unit within the Nassau County District Attorney's Office to combat an increase of illegal guns.

Nassau District Attorney Anne Donnelly has created the Firearms Suppression and Intelligence Unit.

She says they have seized over 94 illegal guns since Jan. 1, which she says is nearly double compared to the same time period in 2021.

"I have asked them to do long-term investigation into where the guns are coming from," Donnelly says.

The unit is comprised of prosecutors, specialized detectives and an intelligence analyst.

Their focus will be to prevent firearms from making their way to Long Island through what is referred to as the "Iron Pipeline" and to prevent ghost guns from getting in the hands of criminals.

Ghost guns are made from individual parts and cannot be traced because they don't have a serial number.

Police say the increase of illegal guns on the streets in Nassau has also led to an increase in shootings.

In 2022, there have been 26 shooting so far, according to Nassau Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder.

"If you go back to 2019, our shootings were at 15 a year to date, so that is a problem," says Ryder. "We are seeing a large increase of guns on the streets."

He says they are taking more and more guns off the streets than they ever have in the history of the department.

Officials say residents should call the police if they are suspicious about possible gun activity in the county.

"What we need is some help from our community. If you know someone that is going down that path, let us know," Ryder says. "You can stay anonymous, and we will make sure we do the right thing."

The new intelligence unit will also create an increase in enforcement, according to the DA's office.

"We will see an increase in arrests and cases," Donnelly says. "We are going to be prosecuting."

The DA says the new unit falls within the current budget of the district attorney's office.

It is up and running as of Thursday.

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