Buffalo is one of 12 cities nationwide joining a newly formed "National Public Safety Partnership," (PSP) announced Thursday by U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions.
It's purpose? Combating violent crime across the U.S.
The Justice Department created PSP in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump in February. That order charged the agency with leading a national effort to combat violent crime.
“The Department of Justice will work with American cities suffering from serious violent crime problems," Attorney General Sessions said. "There is no doubt that there are many strategies that are proven to reduce crime. Our new National Public Safety Partnership program will help these communities build up their own capacity to fight crime, by making use of data-driven, evidence-based strategies tailored to specific local concerns, and by drawing upon the expertise and resources of our Department.”
According to a press release, the partnership will provide "a framework for enhancing federal support of state, local and tribal law enforcement officials and prosecutors as they aggressively investigate and pursue violent criminals, specifically those involved in gun crime, drug trafficking and gang violence."
Mayor Byron Brown says the money would go toward addressing violent crime, illegal drugs and gangs.
According to the Buffalo Police Department rape, assault, robbery and homicide all fall under the violent crime category.
Taking a look at homicide stats for 2017, only two out of 23 have been solved. The rest remain under investigation.
