Some of guns purchased in Racine buy-back program stolen

By Rachel McCormick

Thursday, September 8, 2005 2:05 AM CDT

RACINE - Project New Life had hopes of getting guns off the street when it bought several weapons in a program that began last Wednesday.

Unfortunately, someone had other plans in mind.

Seven guns, collected during a buy-back program, were stolen from Project New Life's administrative office at 1733 Douglas Ave. on Sept. 2 or Sept. 3, said Sgt. William Macemon, public information officer with the Racine Police Department.

"Sometime overnight, the rifles and shotguns were stolen,' Macemon said. "Our Gang Unit is currently looking into it."

The Rev. Elliott K. Cohen said Wednesday an individual the church was assisting had access to the office and had taken the guns. Rather than a burglary, Cohen is calling it an unfortunate incident.

"We work with people that find themselves in difficult situations. We're working to get the guns back," Cohen said.

So far, the guns have not been returned, he said.

The person who stole the guns had a parent murdered, no job, and a baby on the way, Cohen said.

Church officials are not looking to press charges.

"When people are desperate, they will do desperate things," Cohen said.

Police are concerned that the guns are missing and possibly back on the street.

"We're concerned any time firearms are stolen because we don't know what will happen with them," Macemon said.

Police were notified at around noon Saturday about the stolen guns. The initial investigation was handled by the Racine County Sheriff's Department but it was later turned over to city police.

Cohen is the executive director of Project New Life and spearheaded the local alliance that initiated the gun buy-back program.

The program was designed to get guns off the streets and to allow people to turn in weapons for money with no questions asked. It was modeled after a similar program in Milwaukee.

In Milwaukee, the program bought back 256 guns, including a Taser and some hand grenades.

In the last week, Cohen said his office has bought back more than 20 firearms. They received more than $3,000 in donations for the program and so far they have spent $2,800, Cohen said.

Cohen hopes to continue working with the person who stole the guns to help him turn his life around, Cohen said.

"We want to see him become a committed member of society and a committed father," Cohen said.

The buy-back program will continue as planned for the next two months, Cohen said.

The Racine Police Department was not part of the program when it first began, Macemon said. On Tuesday, police agreed to store and destroy the firearms for the program, Cohen said.

Cohen believes that the incident was a one-time problem and doesn't believe the program will have any more problems.

"We help the misfortunate and in many cases people who are high-risk. Every step we take to help people we take a step in the right direction," Cohen said.

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