Staten Island Fisherman’s Find at Receded Silver Lake Reservoir Reveals Taped Gun and Brass Knuckles — Questions Raised as DEP Halts Refilling
Staten Island fisherman Chris Sammon discovered a pistol and brass knuckles taped to a rock at Silver Lake Reservoir after water levels fell; he handed the items to police as the DEP paused refilling the reservoir for conservation.
- Discovery: A tightly wrapped package on an exposed rock contained a pistol and brass knuckles, turned over to police by fisherman Chris Sammon. (Independent Journal Review)
- Cause: The New York City DEP paused refilling the reservoir for conservation, lowering water roughly 8.5 feet and exposing previously submerged items. (Independent Journal Review)
- Initial impressions: Officers suggested the firearm might be a race-starting gun; a former NYPD gun squad detective said it resembled a Ruger .38 — no lab confirmation publicly reported. (Independent Journal Review)
A routine trip to the water
Chris Sammon, a lifelong Staten Island resident and avid fisherman, went to Silver Lake after reports the reservoir had dropped dramatically. He expected old bottles or shoreline debris, but instead saw a tightly taped bundle on a newly exposed rock. When he unwrapped it, he found a pistol and a set of brass knuckles; he immediately handed both items to police at the scene. (Independent Journal Review, UNILAD).
Sammon later said he had considered grim possibilities — from a pet given a water burial to evidence of a crime — and chose to act cautiously. He noted he might have kept the brass knuckles personally, but felt turning everything over to officers was the responsible step given potential ties to unresolved incidents. (Independent Journal Review)
What police and experts said
On-scene officers provided initial impressions rather than formal identification. Some suggested the firearm resembled a race-starting pistol used at athletic events, while a former NYPD gun squad detective who reviewed photos said it looked like a Ruger .38-caliber handgun. No public updates confirmed make, model, or whether the gun was tied to any crime; forensic lab results were not reported in available accounts. (Independent Journal Review)
No public connection to missing-person cases or open investigations was reported. The handling was described as an evidence turn-in and potential police matter pending forensic examination, details of which were not included in later reporting. (Independent Journal Review)
Why the water dropped
Silver Lake, inside Silver Lake Park on Staten Island, fell from about 361.5 million gallons in October to roughly 239.5 million gallons by Dec. 17 — a drop near 122 million gallons, or ~8.5 feet of depth — after the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) paused refilling as a conservation measure. DEP officials said there were no immediate plans to refill and urged the public to stay out of restricted areas for safety. (Independent Journal Review)
The lowered waterline revealed not only the taped package but also discarded phones, golf balls, exposed piping and general trash — items accessible because visitors ignored warnings and fences and entered off-limits shorelines. (Independent Journal Review)
Public safety and stewardship concerns
Two connected questions emerge: park safety and unintended consequences of conservation choices. For residents like Sammon, the drawdown revealed potentially dangerous items that could be mishandled. Officials posted warnings and fenced areas, but popularity with anglers and passersby means restricted sections are sometimes entered regardless. (Independent Journal Review)
“Turning the items in to police was the right call,”
local leaders and residents said, praising Sammon’s decision to avoid handling potentially hazardous or evidentiary material. The incident has re-opened debate about whether the DEP and city agencies adequately communicate risks when altering access to public spaces.
Context and past reports
Receding reservoirs nationwide have exposed everything from household trash to historically significant objects. In New York City, low waterlines previously revealed pipes and infrastructure that raised maintenance and oversight questions. Unrelated reporting has referenced Sammon in other searches, but those accounts appear unconnected to the Silver Lake discovery. (Independent Journal Review, AOL (related search coverage), AOL (skeletal remains coverage)).
What remains unknown
Public reporting left several unresolved items:
- Whether the firearm was ever fired, tested for fingerprints, or traced to a registered owner.
- Whether the brass knuckles or the bundled package connect to an identified crime.
- Why the DEP chose to pause refilling at this time and whether plans will change if safety concerns rise.
DEP urged the public to avoid restricted sections and indicated no immediate refill plans. Any criminal or forensic follow-up would be handled by NYPD and forensic teams; those outcomes were not included in the reporting reviewed. (Independent Journal Review)
Local voices and reaction
Reactions were mixed. Some residents urged clearer communication from DEP about conservation steps that alter access to public spaces. Others warned the exposed shoreline invites illegal activity or possible grave tampering — concerns Sammon himself mentioned when he first saw the package. Many praised his decision to hand the items to police, saying prompt citizen reporting helps preserve evidence and protects the community. (Independent Journal Review, UNILAD).
Implications for Paso Robles, California
Lessons for similar communities:
- Public safety & park stewardship: Ensure clear fencing, signage and patrols during drawdowns to prevent access to exposed hazards.
- Law-and-order practices: Encourage citizens to report suspicious finds and avoid handling potential evidence.
- Government transparency: Communicate reasons, timelines and safety protocols when conservation steps change water levels.
- Recreation & tourism: Plan messaging to protect public safety without unnecessarily harming outdoor recreation economies.
Sources and further reading
Reporting assembled from Times Media Service and local accounts. Readers with tips or information are encouraged to contact the NYPD or local authorities.
- Independent Journal Review: Dark discovery emerges from receded NYC reservoir
- UNILAD: Fisher finds gun and brass knuckles at Silver Lake Reservoir
- AOL: Possible breakthrough in unrelated search coverage
- AOL: Coverage of skeletal remains searches (unrelated)
Note: All original facts, information and URLs from source reporting were preserved in this article. Readers with tips about the Silver Lake Reservoir discovery should contact NYPD or local authorities.
