WHITEHALL, Ohio — Law enforcement officers will be out in full force for New Year's Eve, including the Whitehall Division of Police.
While most law enforcement will be on the look out for impaired drivers, Whitehall has a different focus. This year, their focus is celebratory gunfire.
“We've had houses struck, vehicles struck and people struck from it. It's dangerous. It can kill someone,” said Whitehall Sgt. Jon Earl.
Like many cities, Whitehall has had an issue with people firing off their guns at midnight on New Year's Eve.
“We had a situation a couple of years ago where someone was struck by gunfire just walking down the road. People just don't realize how dangerous it is,” Earl said.
According to Whitehall police, they made 10 arrests from celebratory gunfire last year and one the year before. This year, they are having a crime blitz with extra officers who will focus on gunshots.
“That's the good thing about our Raven Shotspotter... it pinpoints our locations. From years past we are going to concentrate on the areas where it occurs,” Earl said.
Earl said while many just think it's a fun tradition, it can be deadly.
“A bullet coming up or taking off out of a gun is coming down fast enough to seriously injure or possible kill someone.”