ST. LOUIS – St. Louis Metropolitan Police are urging residents to celebrate the new year safely by avoiding celebratory gunfire.
Previous year’s videos show a dangerous practice of firing guns on New Year’s Eve, resulting in stray bullets hitting homes, windows, and businesses.
“As we approach tomorrow’s celebration and the promise of 2025, we want to emphasize that guns have no place in your New Year’s Eve festivities,” Mayor Tishaura Jones emphasized.
Statistics from past New Year’s Eves in St. Louis show a concerning trend – in 2021, police received 542 shots fired calls, rising to 684 in 2022, and dropping to 324 in 2023.
“People gather on their front porches to greet neighbors and celebrate the new year. With children and families outside, it’s crucial to maintain safety. What goes up, must come down,” St. Louis Fire Department Chief Dennis Jenkerson highlighted.
Jones mentioned that the city is aligning with national trends by implementing new regulations on short-term rentals to help combat crime.
“We are committed to equipping short-term rental owners with the tools needed to prevent them from becoming neighborhood nuisances,” Jones stated.
The fire and police departments are collaborating to ensure the safety of the public during the New Year’s celebrations. This includes increased presence of officers on the streets.
“We have boosted the number of officers on duty throughout the city by canceling days off for several individuals. Additionally, more supervisors are overseeing operations to enhance city-wide safety,” SLMPD Chief Robert Tracy explained.
Celebratory gunfire is not only hazardous but also illegal. Blair’s Law, recently enacted, prohibits celebratory gunfire statewide, with a first offense being a class A misdemeanor potentially escalating to felony charges with repeat offenses.
In addition to avoiding celebratory gunfire, police are reminding the public not to drink and drive during the festivities.
