Officials in Paterson insist they are not taking a victory lap as they announce new statistics on gun violence in the city.
Mayor Andre Sayegh joined police leaders in announcing that for the first time in history, more than 200 guns were seized each year for the past three years.
The number of recorded shootings also saw a double-digit decrease last year.
The mayor said the city plans to hire more police officers this year, in addition to the 25 new officers expected to be hired in the next few weeks. An additional 20 officers are expected to be hired in April.