KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Tom Larson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that a new Assistant U.S. Attorney will be hired to combat violent crime in the Kansas City metropolitan area.
The new position was created as part of the Department of Justice initiative against violent crime. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions recently announced that 40 new Assistant U.S. Attorney positions have been created in 27 districts.
This additional staffing follows the designation of the Western District of Missouri as a Public Safety Partnership (PSP) Diagnostic Site to work with local law enforcement partners on public safety and violence reduction. Eight districts nationwide received this designation.
PSP was established in June 2017 and provides an innovative framework for the Department of Justice to enhance its support of state and local law enforcement officers and prosecutors in the investigation, prosecution, and deterrence of violent crime, especially crime related to gun violence, gangs, and drug trafficking. This approach serves as a platform to directly engage with cities to identify and prioritize resources that will help local communities address violent crime.
PSP enables cities to consult with and receive coordinated training and technical assistance and an array of resources from the Department of Justice to enhance local violence reduction strategies. PSP provides data-driven, evidence-based strategies tailored to the unique local needs of participating cities to address serious violent crime challenges tailored to their unique local needs.
PSP supports law enforcement, communities, and justice systems at the state and local level to prevent and reduce crime, combat violence and enhance public safety through the use of evidence-based practices. Among the components of a PSP Diagnostic Site are:
• Relationship building;
• Data collection and analysis;
• Training and technical assistance; and
• Community engagement in violence reduction strategies.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
