DETROIT (WWJ) -- Detroit is one of seven U.S. cities that will receive additional funding from the federal government to crack down on violent crime.
Attorney General William Barr made a stop in Detroit Wednesday afternoon, rolling out "Operation Relentless Pursuit," an initiative that will allow local law enforcement to have access to state-of-the art technology and top federal agents from multiple departments, as Barr takes aim at violent crime rates.
The Justice Department is committing more than $70 million in federal grants that will help fund the new initiative, allowing city departments to hire new officers, pay overtime and upgrade equipment and technology. Detroit will receive $10 million for the new task force.
The other cities that will be part of Operation Relentless Pursuit include Albuquerque, Baltimore, Cleveland, Kansas City, Memphis and Milwaukee, all of which have violent crime rates well above the national average. Departments will receive additional efforts from the FBI, ATF, DEA and U.S. Marshals Service.
Barr says Detroit is one of America's most important cities, the city suffers from some of the worst violent crime in the country.
"There's been consistent progress here in Detroit in recent years, but you're starting from a very high level of violent crime and it's still significantly higher than the national average and our view is that we go where justice is needed most," Barr said Wednesday at the United States Attorney's Office in Detroit.
Detroit Police Chief James Craig says the city is the winner when it comes to the plan outlined Wendesday afternoon. Craig is hoping the new operation helps target fugitives.
"We're already working very effectively with the Marshals Office, but if we're getting additional agents deployed here in Detroit and additional equipment, technology that can help us identify violent perpetrators quicker, that's a win for us," Craig said.
The chief says the additional federal help is a positive for the city.
"Working in a collaborative relationship with a federal partner does work and to see additional federal agents be deployed in Detroit working along Detroit police officers, that's a big win for us. I'm excited about the outcome. And while we have made some progress over the last several years, there's still plenty of work that needs to be done here."
Craig says he is still working on his plans for how the departments will work together.
