Pueblo police respond to high volume of shots-fired calls

Nearly every day this month Pueblo police have investigated a report of gunshots.

Officers typically respond to 50 shots-fired calls a month, but this month they hit that number by November 16. The figure includes four drive-by shootings, two homicides and a shooting at Pueblo Community College where the target was a former gang member.

Deputy Chief Michael Bennett said gangs and drugs are fueling the shootings. While colder weather tends to slow down crime, he said it just hasn’t been cold enough.

Neighbors on the city’s east side told KRDO NewsChannel 13 the sound of gunfire has become all too familiar.

“Especially really late at night when my husband gets home around 11, 12 o’clock,” said Shanna Doyle, who has a 4-year-old daughter.

“Most recently in the last few days, maybe a week ago,” said Puebloan Phyllis Robinson.

Police admit — this month has been out of the ordinary.

“It’s a lot of shots fired,” Bennett said, “There’s no doubt about it.”

Of the 50 calls of shots fired this month, Bennett said only 15 turned up enough evidence to warrant a police report.

“Sometimes they’re shooting revolvers that don’t leave a shell casing. Other times they’re semi automatics that if they’re firing from a car, the shell casings might be kept within the car,” Bennett said.

He pointed out that not all shots-fired calls turn out to be actual gunshots, but said they usually are.

“They can be anything from fireworks to a car backfiring. Anytime somebody hears something that they think may be a gun, they call it in as a shots fired. Like you said, most of the time it turns out to be an actual shots fired,” Bennett said.

There are repeat offenders. Just last week, police were called out to the same neighborhood on the city’s east side within three days to investigate shots fired.

“There is special attention paid to some of these addresses,” Bennett said.

The city is adding seven officers to the force next year to help with the growing gang problem, but Bennett said more officers are needed. KRDO NewsChannel 13 uncovered that staffing at the police department hasn’t changed in 40 years.

“That’s just not acceptable from my perspective from a city that has grown in size, the severity of the calls has significantly increased,” Bennett said.

But some are tired and they’re taking matters into their own hands.

“Because it’s gotten so bad here lately, come June we’re gonna be moving,” Doyle said. “I mean it’s too dangerous around here.”

Police encourage people to set up neighborhood watch programs. They admit they often can’t respond to calls as quickly as they would like to.

“I want to be able to send officers when they call, and sometimes we’re not able to right now,” Bennett said.