Nassau police are turning to a new hotline to help get guns off the streets.
The county has developed GunStoppers, a tip line for information on illegal firearms. Callers who give legitimate tips about illegal guns in circulation are eligible for a cash reward up to $2,000.
Nassau Police Commissioner Lawrence Mulvey discussed the hotline at a news conference Thursday in a Western Beef parking lot, a known gang location. Mulvey and his officers want to increase public knowledge of the hotline. They hope the anonymity offered to callers will attract residents scared of the snitching stigma.
"Forget about this stop snitching phenomenon," says Mulvey. "This is a mechanism where you can call and have no fear of being identified."
GunStoppers was launched in March. Police say they've recovered one firearm through the hotline so far.
GunStoppers - 1-877-4GUN411