U.S Attorney Thomas Delahanty II announced Monday that Operation Hot Spot will continue through June 2015 in Lewiston.It began after three violent acts in May 2012 in the downtown area."There were many members of the public who came to express concern about the illegal activity that was occurring in the neighborhood. There was assault, assault weapons, drug use, drug trafficking, theft and prostitution among others," Delahanty said.Operation Hot Spot is a cooperative effort of law enforcement agencies at the local, county, state and federal level.The goal of the program is to reduce violent crime, drug trafficking, gun activity, prostitution and other crimes in Lewiston.Some residents think the city is getting safer."It's a safer place to live than it was a year ago," said Chuck Soule.Others believe it has only gotten worse."The streets aren't any safer anymore. There's more drugs, more hookers, more everything," said David Hamilton.Operation Hot Spot is able to continue because of a $150,000 grant from the Department of Justice.Delahanty said the program has helped Lewiston and state police take 28 firearms off the streets, and confiscate 1,375 grams of illegal drugs and 735 oxycodone pills as well as $44,000 in drug trafficking money.Lewiston Police Chief Michael Bussiere said within months of starting the program, the department saw a decrease in crime."When you get an extra three or four dozen officers, whether they're in plain clothes, uniforms or a combination of both, out in the streets people notice it pretty quickly and it gets the word across pretty quickly," Bussiere said.Lewiston resident Jonathon Burt has noticed the decrease too."Couple of my friends got busted.  I see cops everywhere now, cracking down on stuff and trying to make the city cleaner," said Burt.