ROCHESTER, N.Y. — The agencies behind Rochester's Project Exile say it has been one the most impactful gun programs over the past 26 years.

What You Need To Know

  • Project Exile was started in Rochester over 25 years ago and is an initiative to decrease the presence of illegal guns and gun violence in the community

  • It is a collaboration between the local, state and federal levels of law enforcement and community partners and has been led by Chairmen Gary Mervis, founder of Camp Good Days, since its inception in Rochester

  • This year's luncheon highlights a keynote address by Erin Keegan, the special agent in charge of the homeland security investigations Buffalo field office, and a key leader in the battle against gun violence

  • Keegan stated the Rochester Office alone seized close to 2,000 rounds of ammunition and approximately 50 firearms during the course of their collaborative investigations

“Bill Johnson, who was the mayor of the city of Rochester at the time, was desperately looking for something to help deal with the proliferation of guns in the city, illegal guns and the homicide rate,” Project Exile advisory board chairman Gary Mervis said. “We're the longest-running Project Exile in the country. And it's all about cooperation.”

With hundreds of criminals exiled and thousands of guns neutralized, representatives from various crucial agencies were present to provide insight into their contributions to Project Exile's success.

“I was just looking at some numbers this morning,” Rochester Mayor Malik Evans said. “Homicides related to gun violence are down 35% from 2023. But with the five-year average, [there's] a 38% decrease. Total shooting victims are down 34.5% from the five-year average in over a year. And that is the result of the work of the Rochester Police Department, but also the partnerships with the men and women that we have in this room. And this year alone, the Rochester Police Department and its partners have taken over 1,249 guns off the streets of Rochester. That's a record  — 1,249. There's an aspect I will mention that we had over 747 guns taken as a result of a gun buyback that we had with the state attorney general's office. And so the arrows are moving in the right direction, but we still have more work to do.”

This year's luncheon highlights a keynote address by Erin Keegan, the special agent in charge of the homeland security investigations Buffalo field office, and a key leader in the battle against gun violence.

“Buffalo agents have continued to work targeting criminal organizations, as well as the marketplaces on the darknet, selling weapons, weapons, parts and ammunition,” Keegan said. “Last year, our agency, [the] Rochester office alone, seized close to 2,000 rounds of ammunition and approximately 50 firearms during the course of their collaborative investigations."

She highlighted not only the agencies’ achievements, but the camaraderie and partnerships project exile that has been generated in Rochester.  

“I am committed to continuing to work alongside our state and local partners to proactively stem the flow of firearms into our cities,” Keegan said. “Collaboration is not just a buzzword, it's a necessity. By pooling our resources and sharing intelligence, we can strengthen our capabilities and ensure that our efforts are both effective and targeted. Together, we can develop strategies that address the root cause of gun violence while also enforcing the laws that protect our citizens.”

Rochester became the second city in the country to implement project exile. Its advisory board continues to meet monthly to improve communications among those who are waging the battles against illegal guns and drugs in the community.