Uptick In Violence Due To Gang Activity: Meriden PD

MERIDEN, CT — The Meriden Police Department recently made a statement regarding an uptick in violence in the city during recent weeks. Police said much of this is due to gang activity.

The statement reads:

The Meriden Police Department would like to take this opportunity to address the recent uptick in violence which has been taking place in our City over the past several weeks. We would like to ensure the citizens of Meriden that we are doing everything within our power to curb this violence and to make Meriden a safe community for our residents, business owners and the visitors who frequent our city.

Currently we suspect that the majority of violent crime is being committed by gang members that reside in Meriden as well as other nearby communities. At this time the Meriden Police Department's primary focus is centered on identifying and arresting any and all suspects who are responsible for this uptick in violence. To date, numerous gang members have already been identified and we have already made a concerted effort to step up enforcement by rearranging and reassigning our agency's personnel as well as by adding additional personnel to specialized units.

The Meriden Police Department is also working collaboratively at this time with other local law enforcement agencies as well as other State and Federal agencies in order to identify and apprehend known suspects whose reckless actions place our community at risk.

At this time much of the violence being committed is being done so by suspected gang members who are specifically targeting other suspected gang members and/or specific locations where rival gang members are known to frequent.

The Meriden Police Department would also like to remind everyone that we do have an anonymous Drug/Crime Tip line which can be reached at (203) 630-6273. If anyone has any information pertaining to any past incidents or any information that could assist us in preventing future violence, they are asked to contact us at this number. All calls will be kept confidential.

See related: Triple Shooting Leaves 3 Injured In Meriden