WICHITA, KAN. - A $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice will help the Wichita Police Department set up a gun crime center, U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said today.
The grant is part of a federal initiative aimed at putting more resources into cities that are fighting violent crime problems.
“We want the Wichita Police Department to have more tools to fight violent crime," U.S. Attorney Stephen McAllister said. “Technology, intelligence and community engagement are the keys to identifying firearms used in crimes and successfully prosecuting armed criminals."
In its application for the grant, the Wichita Police Department outlined plans to develop a Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC), including a crime analyst, an investigator, training, software for data analysis, bullets, cameras, a remote test fire system, microscope, bullet detection sensors, a CGIC prosecutor and forensic examiner. The plan includes funding for Wichita State University to serve as a research partner. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will work with police on the project.
Funding is being provided by the Justice Department’s Bureau of Justice Assistance through the National Crime Gun Intelligence Center initiative. For more information. More information on the program is available at https://crimegunintelcenters.org/
Source: U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the United States Attorneys
