Welcome to day two of the Crime Gun Intelligence Center Annual Conference.

I hope you all had a fantastic start yesterday.

First off, huge thanks to Chief Morales and the Miami Police Department for hosting us this year, and to President Jim Burch and the team at the National Policing Institute, along with our partners at the Bureau of Justice Assistance and ATF, for making this event possible.

Driving Towards Safer Communities

As leaders in law enforcement, you’re on the front lines of combating the spike in violent crime that began during the pandemic in 2020.

Each of you and your teams has been working tirelessly in your communities to address this challenge.

Since 2021, the Justice Department has been implementing a robust strategy to reduce violent crime, focusing on four key pillars:

1. Targeting Violent Offenders: Prioritizing efforts against those driving violent crime.

2. Building Community Trust: Strengthening ties with the communities we serve.

3. Investing in Prevention: Supporting local prevention and intervention programs.

4. Measuring Impact: Evaluating success through tangible reductions in crime rates.

Supporting Our Partners

At the Department of Justice, our role is to support you by leveraging our resources effectively.

We act as a force multiplier for state and local law enforcement, deploying personnel and investing in technology and data-driven strategies to target violent crime effectively.

Thanks to these efforts, we’ve seen significant progress nationwide.

Last year, violent crime decreased by nearly 6%, with murders down by 13%.

Early indicators for this year show even more promising trends, with murders down over 26% in the first quarter of 2024 compared to last year.

The Role of Crime Gun Intelligence

A crucial part of this success is due to crime gun intelligence, a topic central to this conference.

From rural counties to major cities, law enforcement agencies are collaborating across all levels to combat gun violence effectively.

Crime gun intelligence centers exemplify a unified approach in law enforcement.

By working together under one roof, alongside U.S. Attorneys’ Offices, ATF, and other partners, you’re generating more leads, identifying dangerous offenders, and reducing violent crime rates.

Moving Forward Together

Despite these achievements, our work is far from done.

Every community is affected by gun violence, and every community can benefit from the insights provided by crime gun intelligence.

The impact is clear: lives saved, families protected, and streets made safer.

While recent budget cuts present challenges, now is not the time to slow down.

It’s the time to accelerate our efforts because we know crime gun intelligence works.

By expanding these initiatives, from small towns to large cities, we can ensure more communities remain safe.

Closing Thoughts

In closing, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to each of you for your dedication and commitment to making our communities safer.

Your service, alongside your fellow officers, is invaluable, and we are proud to stand with you in this effort.

Enjoy day two of the conference, and let’s continue leading the way forward together.

TDPel Media

This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!

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