(WWJ/AP) The government says a few dozen federal agents and deputy marshals have been specially assigned to combat gun violence and catch fugitives in Detroit.
Authorities say the goal of the effort, dubbed "Operation Legend" is to reduce crime, not quell protests against racism or excessive force by police.
Matthew Schneider, the U.S. attorney for eastern Michigan said agents and crime analysts are being assigned to the city to collaborate with the local police.
Questions have swirled about the agents' mission since President Donald Trump sent federal agents to Portland, Oregon, where critics say the agents have overstepped their mandate to protect federal property in the city and abused their power.
Schneider said “federal troops” will in fact not be patrolling Detroit streets and he dismissed as “irresponsible rhetoric” any suggestion that the government wants to disrupt lawful protests against racism and the excessive use of force by police.
Mayor Mike Duggan and Detroit Police Chief James Craig on Wednesday released a joint statement saying that would welcome federal help, provided it's the kind of help they need.
“The Detroit Police Department has had a strong working relationship with U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider and the federal law enforcement agencies here in Detroit," the pair wrote.
"Today’s announcement of additional staff for those departments was not initiated by the City of Detroit. So long as those staff are used in the continuing effort to enforce federal laws on illegal gun trafficking and gang violence, DPD will continue its strong partnership with those agencies.
"For the last two months, the Detroit Police Department has responded to the protests by relying on the support of the Detroit community, not by asking for intervention by the National Guard or Homeland Security. We believe there is no lawful basis for Homeland Security intervention in the Detroit protests today, or for any increased presence of Homeland Security agents in our community. Today’s announcement appears to respect that position.
"We have to address the unacceptable level of gun violence in Detroit through greater efforts by federal, state, county, DPD, and community partners all working together. We hope today’s announcement will prove to be an important step in that direction.”
On Monday, Detroit Police Chief James Craig said more than 500 guns were seized during a recent four-week period in the city, telling reporters, "We have not seen the number of handguns that we're seeing now."
Schneider said the feds can help with that.
"We all can, and we must, strive every day to improve how we do our jobs," Schneider said. "And as we so that, dedicated law enforcement officers deserve our respect and appreciate, not our scorn, suspicious and mistrust."
Along with Detroit, Trump is also sending agents to Chicago and Milwaukee.
U.S. Attorney in Milwaukee Matthew Krueger said federal agents there will work side-by-side with local and state task forces, insisting that the agents will be trained investigators and not "beat cops."
U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin, a Democrat from Wisconsin, said that after speaking with Kreiger she is supportive of the Milwaukee operation. She said she was pleased that he was clarifying the mission and faulted Trump’s administration for not being clear from the outset.
“I’m glad there’s been some clarification and we want to be kept apprised, very frequently, about what this operation is about,” Baldwin said.