Aurora police reinforce zero-tolerance policy on New Year’s Eve celebratory gunfire

Celebratory gunfire is a recurring problem in many cities, particularly on New Year’s Eve. Too often, it leads to tragic consequences when stray bullets strike innocent people. Any bullet fired into the air must come down somewhere, and when it does, it poses a serious risk of injury or death.

The Aurora Police Department maintains a zero-tolerance approach to the illegal discharge of firearms and remains committed to reducing gun violence in our community. Our mission is to protect residents and preserve quality of life by enhancing safety and security throughout the city.

During the upcoming holiday period, the department will deploy patrol resources to areas that experienced the highest levels of celebratory gunfire activity during last year’s New Year’s Eve and July 4.

On New Year’s Eve, officers will respond to all ShotSpotter activations citywide, with particular focus on those identified hot spot areas. Anyone who is found illegally discharging a firearm will be arrested.

Officers will also continue regular citywide patrols to prevent crime, address disturbances, and enforce impaired-driving laws.

“Celebratory gunfire puts innocent people at risk, and our priority is protecting the people who live and work in Aurora,” said Aurora Police Chief Matt Thomas. “ShotSpotter helps officers get to the right location faster, improves situational awareness, and helps us hold offenders accountable while keeping our community safe — especially during high-risk times like New Year’s Eve.”

As part of our commitment to transparency, the Aurora Police Department provides public access to crime data and other information through its open data portal. Residents can view crime trends, community engagement efforts, and workforce data at police-transparency-cityofaurora.hub.arcgis.com/.