Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Superintendent Garry McCarthy today announced partnerships with federal law enforcement agencies that will augment the Violence Reduction Initiative now underway in the Englewood (7th) and Harrison (11th) Districts.

“We’re putting partnerships, practices, and resources in place to make our communities stronger and more secure,” said Mayor Emanuel. “These partnerships with federal law enforcement agencies are another tool we will utilize to fight crime and reduce violence in our city.”

Support from federal law enforcement partners, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), and the U.S. Marshals Service, will provide opportunities for joint investigations, increased information sharing, and stronger penalties related to federal prosecution.    

“Violence in our communities transcends neighborhood boundaries and must be confronted with every available resource,” said Superintendent Garry F. McCarthy. “Alliances with our federal law enforcement partners will extend the reach of our crime-fighting plan and reinforce comprehensive efforts to realize and sustain results in violence reduction.” 

Historically, the 7th and 11th Districts accounted for 25 percent of overall crime in the city. In January, the Chicago Police Department announced a new Violence Reduction Initiative aimed at driving down crime in these areas. Preliminary results from this are promising with the 7th and 11th Districts demonstrating a combined 63 percent drop in murders and 36 percent decrease in shootings since the initiative launched compared to the same time period in 2011. 

“It takes a comprehensive effort like the one proposed today to successfully combat violent crime and protect the residents and families in these neighborhoods,” said U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL). “I applaud Mayor Emanuel for bringing together local law enforcement, state and federal agencies and members of Congress around this common goal.  I will continue working with my colleagues in Washington to support efforts to reduce violence in our communities.”

Support from the following federal law enforcement partners will complement the City of Chicago’s violence reduction initiatives. Specifically, the federal resources will do the following:

U.S. Attorney’s and Cook County State’s Attorney Office

• The Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office will review all gun cases in the 7th and 11th Districts to identify the cases that fit the guidelines for federal prosecution.
• Together, they will continue to prosecute cases as part of the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative in the districts, which focuses on prevention and re-entry programs. 

FBI

• In collaboration with CPD’s Gang Intelligence and Bureau of Detectives, the FBI will assist shooting investigative teams in both the 7th and 11th Districts. 

DEA

• The Drug Enforcement Administration has dedicated three teams to work on short- and long-term narcotic missions alongside CPD Gang Intelligence and Narcotics, and they will step up their street level buys to assist in the target districts. 

U.S. Marshals Service

• The U.S. Marshals will conduct fugitive apprehension missions along with CPD Fugitive Unit in order to have a resounding impact in the districts. 

IRS

• The Internal Revenue Service will look at targets in the 7th and 11th Districts for assets and proof of source of income. These efforts will include investigations into family members and associates for business activity and hidden assets. 

ATF

• The Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms will utilize the Strike Force to assist CPD’s GID and make gun buys in the 7th and 11th Districts. 

Illinois Department of Corrections

• Illinois Department of Corrections-Parole Division will conduct compliance checks on individuals or groups of subjects as directed.
• They will consider “Zero Tolerance” during the checks but this has to be vetted through their superiors and the ultimate decision to detain a parolee once he has violated his parole lies with the prison review board. 

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