Gun violence is a top priority for the U.S. Government in Washington, as announced by U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes.
In a move to combat the rising tide of gun violence, the U.S. Government has awarded $500,000 to the Project Safe Neighborhood program in the Puget Sound region, with additional focus on crime gun intelligence in South King and Pierce Counties.
The grant will enhance intelligence sharing between law enforcement agencies, allowing them to link guns used in crimes and build stronger cases for prosecution.
U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes emphasized the importance of forensic tools and intelligence sharing in identifying felons with guns, stating, ‘Forensic tools from ATF, and intelligence sharing between law enforcement agencies have been key to identifying felons with guns who need to be off the street.’
Hayes highlighted three cases where guns recovered had been tied to multiple shootings, including one incident with as many as 9 shots fired.
The Project Safe Neighborhood grant will provide funding for a Special Assistant United States Attorney to review every firearms case in King County to determine if federal prosecution is appropriate.
The grant also provides for additional personnel to leverage the Gun Crime Intelligence Center, making connections between shooting incidents in south King and Pierce Counties and helping law enforcement identify, arrest, and prosecute high-impact offenders.
‘ATF is proud to partner with local law enforcement and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to bring the most advanced forensic science to the battle against gun crime,’ said Darek Pleasants, Special Agent in Charge, ATF Seattle.
The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN) has captured approximately 2.8 million images of ballistic evidence and confirmed more than 74,000 NIBIN hits since its inception in 1999.
Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is a comprehensive approach to gun law enforcement, providing resources and tools to local programs targeting gun crime.
Implementation of PSN has fostered close partnerships between federal, state, and local prosecutors and law enforcement.
Defendant/Respondent: U.S. Government
Exact Criminal Charges: N/A
City and State: Washington
Exact Date: N/A
Sentence or Outcome: N/A
Dollar Amounts: $500,000
Key Facts
- State: Washington
- Category: Violent Crime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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