Nicholas Vassallo | U.S. Department of Justice
In October 2023, the U.S. Attorney’s Office established a Wyoming Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) Leadership Committee to determine how PSN resources will be used in Wyoming. The committee aims to develop enforcement strategies to prevent and reduce crime, while providing oversight and evaluation of the program's progress.
The PSN initiative is a nationwide effort that unites federal, state, and local law enforcement officials, prosecutors, and community leaders to address violent crime problems. It employs four key elements: community engagement, prevention and intervention, focused and strategic enforcement, and accountability.
After analyzing Wyoming crime statistics from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), the committee decided to focus PSN resources on Laramie County. Priority areas include violent offenders victimizing children, armed offenders prohibited from possessing firearms, recidivists of violent crimes, intimate partner violence (IPV) offenders using firearms during IPV crimes, offenders with firearms distributing controlled substances, and those involved in human trafficking.
"The goal of bringing this committee together is to make Wyoming safer by supporting local and state law enforcement and prosecutors," stated Acting U.S. Attorney Eric Heimann. The aim is also "by prosecuting appropriate violent offenders in federal court where they will receive long prison sentences."
Early in 2024, the Laramie County Sheriff’s Office and Cheyenne Police Department were approved for PSN grant funding aimed at preventing and reducing violent crime. These agencies have joined the PSN Leadership Committee along with officials from the Laramie County District Attorney’s Office.
Cheyenne Police Chief Mark Francisco highlighted the importance of collaboration: "Project Safe Neighborhoods is a vital partnership between all levels of law enforcement." He emphasized that combining resources helps identify offenders more effectively.
Sheriff Brian Kozak plans to use PSN resources to assist other criminal justice agencies in Laramie County and aid domestic violence victims. He announced plans for an advanced homicide investigation course for detectives and intends to purchase cameras for documenting evidence following assaults. "The collaboration of the PSN Leadership Committee will help us bring about justice following a violent crime," Kozak said.
The participating agencies include:
- Cheyenne Police Department
- Laramie County District Attorney’s Office
- Laramie County Sheriff’s Office
- Wyoming Association of Sheriffs and Chiefs of Police
- Wyoming Department of Corrections
- Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation
- Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
- Drug Enforcement Administration
- Federal Bureau of Investigation
- Homeland Security Investigations
- United States Attorney’s Office
- United States Marshals Service
Ronnie Jones, Director of the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation remarked on their participation: "I am thankful for the cooperation... provided to this program to help make our state a safer place." Jones looks forward to stakeholders implementing new ideas against local violent crime.
For further details about programs within the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Wyoming or Project Safe Neighborhoods visit www.justice.gov/usao-wy or www.justice.gov/psn respectively.
