Attorney General Merrick B. Garland announced the opening of the Northeast Ohio Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) in Cleveland on June 25, 2024. The CGIC aims to enhance law enforcement's ability to investigate and prevent gun violence through collaboration and advanced technology.
"CGICs like this one are law enforcement hubs that focus exclusively on investigating and preventing gun violence," Garland stated. He emphasized that these centers bring together local, state, and federal law enforcement officers and prosecutors, providing them with access to cutting-edge ballistic analysis and firearms tracing technology.
Garland was joined by ATF Director Steve Dettelbach, U.S. Attorney Michelle Lutzko, and over 20 law enforcement leaders at the announcement. This gathering symbolized the collaborative approach taken by the Justice Department in combating violent crime over the past three and a half years.
"When I became Attorney General, I knew that grappling with the violent crime that surged early in the pandemic would be one of the greatest challenges faced by the Justice Department," Garland said. He highlighted partnerships among federal agencies, state and local law enforcement, community groups, intervention workers, and local leaders as essential tools in this effort.
Garland expressed concern about a proposal to cut nearly $1 billion from the Justice Department's budget. "This effort to defund the Justice Department and its essential law enforcement functions will make our fight against violent crime all the more difficult," he said.
The announcement coincided with the two-year anniversary of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA). Under this act's provisions on straw purchasing and firearms trafficking, 525 defendants have been charged, preventing 800 firearm purchases by legally prohibited individuals.
Data from earlier this month showed a significant decrease in violent crime nationwide during Q1 2024 compared to Q1 2023. In Cleveland specifically, homicides committed with firearms dropped by more than 33 percent year-to-date.
However, Garland acknowledged ongoing challenges: "Earlier this month, a block party in Akron became the target of a drive-by mass shooting... And last month in Euclid, Officer Jacob Derbin was tragically shot and killed."
The new CGIC is expected to help solve gun crimes efficiently across various jurisdictions using advanced technology. Garland cited examples from other cities where CGICs have aided investigations promptly.
"Whether in Chicago, Detroit or Columbus — or here in Cleveland: CGICs help law enforcement keep our communities safe," he said.
In addition to expanding CGICs nationwide, Garland noted other initiatives such as joint task forces targeting repeat offenders and gangs; an Interim Final Rule allowing firearms dealers to check if guns being sold were stolen; grants for hiring police officers; strengthening community policing efforts; investing in evidence-based community violence intervention programs; and building public trust essential for safety.
Before concluding his remarks by turning over to ATF Director Steve Dettelbach’s speech segmenting into appreciation for those contributing towards making CGIC possible while acknowledging Tamir Rice’s birthday reflecting upon tragedy impacts felt within community loss sentiments shared grievingly acknowledged commemoratively underscored future commitment persistently ensuring Americans’ safety continuously tirelessly pursued resolutely steadfastly upheld unwaveringly dedicatedly driven purposefully towards achieving end goal collectively collaboratively inclusively concertedly advancing progress unrelentingly forward-facing vigilant stance proactively maintaining safeguarding aspirations justly equitably upheld universally throughout society overarching vision fundamentally grounded principled ethical framework governance judicial policy-making paradigms integrally aligned mission objectives goals ultimately realized fruition tangible measurable outcomes results demonstrable 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