Illegal Gun Confiscations Up In Chicago, Far Outpacing New York: Police

Chicago Police Superintendent Garry McCarthy on Wednesday announced that his department removed 131 illegal guns from the city's streets on New Year's Eve, bringing the year's total to 7,624 -- far more, per capita, than the New York Police Department has found.

According to police, the 131 guns recovered on New Year's Eve -- including assault rifles, semi-automatic guns and handguns -- surpassed the 2010 total of 83 guns.

"Our officers are doing exceptional work to collect these guns and this should serve as a reminder of the violence our officers face every day," McCarthy said in a statement announcing the surge in weapon recovery.

McCarthy told CBS Chicago that for every one gun that NYPD takes off its city streets, Chicago officers recover almost seven.

"I need you to realize that every single time a Chicago Police officer takes a gun off the street, we are in an armed confrontation with a criminal," McCarthy said.

A funeral was held Thursday morning at United Baptist Church for eight year CPD veteran Clifton Lewis, who was fatally shot on Dec. 29 while trying to thwart a robbery at M&M Quick Foods on the city's West Side.

A $13,000 reward has been offered for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of Lewis's killer. Anyone with information is urged to call 1-888-YPOSHOT.

McCarthy has previously pressed for the community's help in reducing gun violence citywide and stated in July that "it's not the community versus the police. ... We all want safety and security in the community. We need the community's help to turn these things around."