Santa Rosa Police Department Gun Buyback Collects 583 Firearms

The Santa Rosa Police Department, in partnership with the Santa Rosa Police Foundation, successfully hosted a community Gun Buyback on Saturday, October 3, 2026, at the Santa Rosa Veterans Memorial Building.

Community participation was significant, with 583 firearms voluntarily surrendered during the event, including:

198 handguns
353 long guns
17 assault weapons
15 ghost guns

The event provided community members with a safe, anonymous, and convenient way to voluntarily dispose of firearms they no longer wanted. No identification was required, and no questions were asked regarding the origin of firearms surrendered through the program.

Chief John Cregan said, “As Chief of Police, I have made it a priority to reduce gun violence in our community, and I strongly believe that this strategy must be broader than just making arrests. Gun buyback programs are an opportunity to safely dispose of unwanted firearms that are often vulnerable to being stolen or accessed by individuals in a mental health crisis seeking to harm themselves.

“The Santa Rosa Police Department continues to lead the way in holistic strategies focused on prevention, intervention, and education. Together, as a community, we can truly make a difference. Today, these partnerships resulted in removing 583 firearms from our streets, including 17 assault weapons and 15 ghost guns. This is a true win for our community.”

The Santa Rosa Police Foundation partnered with the Police Department to support and fund the event as part of its ongoing commitment to public safety and community well-being. No City of Santa Rosa or other public funds were used to compensate participants.

As a nonprofit organization supporting the Santa Rosa Police Department, the Foundation provides resources, funding, and community partnerships that support public safety programs and initiatives benefiting the Santa Rosa community.

The Santa Rosa Police Department thanks the community members who participated in the Gun Buyback, the Santa Rosa Police Foundation for its partnership and financial support, and the employees and volunteers whose efforts helped make the event safe and successful.

Gun buyback programs are one component of the Department’s broader approach to gun violence prevention, intervention, education, and enforcement, while also providing residents with a responsible option for disposing of unwanted firearms.

More information about the Santa Rosa Police Foundation and the programs it supports is available at:

https://santarosapolicefoundation.org/