The DEA
released the below information:
DETROIT – Today,
Attorney General William P. Barr announced the launch of Operation Relentless
Pursuit, an initiative aimed at combating violent crime in seven of America’s
most violent cities through a surge in federal resources.
Joined at a
press conference in Detroit by DEA Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon, ATF
Acting Director Regina Lombardo, FBI Director Christopher A. Wray and United
States Marshals Service Director Donald W. Washington, Attorney General Barr
pledged to intensify federal law enforcement resources in Albuquerque,
Baltimore, Cleveland, Detroit, Kansas City, Memphis, and Milwaukee – seven
American cities with violent crime levels several times the national average.
“Americans
deserve to live in safety,” said Attorney General Barr. “And while nationwide
violent crime rates are down, many cities continue to see levels of
extraordinary violence. Operation Relentless Pursuit seeks to ensure that no
American city is excluded from the peace and security felt by the majority of
Americans, while also supporting those who serve and protect in these
communities with the resources, training, and equipment they need to stay
safe.”
“Drug
traffickers - including cartels and street gangs - will stop at nothing to turn
a profit, often using violence and intimidation to expand their reach,” said
Acting Administrator Dhillon. “This targeted surge of resources will further
strengthen our ability to work with our federal, state, and local partners to
pursue the worst offenders and make our communities safer.”
“The men and
women of ATF are deeply committed to and focused on reducing crime gun violence
in our communities,” said Acting Director Lombardo. “We are proud that our
efforts have significantly contributed to the historic reductions in violence
that our nation has realized in recent years. Project Relentless Pursuit
combines the resources of ATF, DEA, FBI and U.S. Marshals to support our state
and local law enforcement partners in those cities that – regrettably –
continue to be plagued by rates of violent crime that are simply too
high. Through Relentless Pursuit, we pledge to hold accountable the trigger-pullers,
firearm traffickers, violent criminals and those who supply them the
guns to terrorize our communities. ATF will aggressively utilize
every available tool, including our crime gun enforcement teams, National
Integrated Ballistic Information Network and firearms tracing to identify,
investigate and support the prosecution of the most violent firearm offenders.”
“The FBI
remains committed to providing our specialized expertise and resources to
assist our federal, state and local partners fighting violent crime,” said
Director Wray. “We are here today to reaffirm our dedication to reducing
violent crime in the cities selected for Operation Relentless Pursuit to combat
the threats that arise from gangs and criminal enterprises that drive violence in
the communities we are sworn to protect.”
“The U.S.
Marshals Service is proud of the integral role we play in supporting Attorney
General Barr’s strong leadership and commitment to combating violent crime and
enhancing public safety throughout our nation,” said Director Washington. “We
will continue to work with our local, state and federal partners to make
communities safer by addressing violent crime at its core and taking the worst
of the worst fugitives and other felons off the streets.”
The
Operation will involve increasing the number of federal law enforcement
officers to the selected cities, as well as bulking up federal task forces
through collaborative efforts with state and local law enforcement partners.
The surge in federal agents will be complemented by a financial commitment of
up to $71 million in federal grant funding that can be used to hire new
officers, pay overtime and benefits, finance federally deputized task force
officers and provide mission-critical equipment and technology.
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