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AG Schmitt and U.S. Attorney Garrison Announce Expansion of Safer Streets Initiative to Kansas City

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Today, Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt and U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison announced an expansion of Schmitt’s Safer Streets Initiative to Kansas City. In this unprecedented cooperative effort, the Attorney General’s Office will work together with the U.S. Attorney’s Office to more fully prosecute violent crime in the Kansas City area.

During his press conference, Attorney General Schmitt reiterated his dedication to fighting violent crime, saying, “It’s been a little over a month since I was sworn in as the Attorney General for the State of Missouri, and as the state’s chief law enforcement officer, I cannot stand idly by as communities and lives are torn apart by violence. People deserve to feel safe. In my first address as the Attorney General, I committed this office to protecting all six million Missourians, and my office has already taken steps to fulfill that important duty, but there’s more to be done.”

In 2017, there were over 160 violent crime incidents in Jackson County alone, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

Schmitt also emphasized that establishing this unprecedented cooperative effort between the Attorney General’s Office and the U.S. Attorney’s Office is an important next step to combating violent crime in Kansas City.

“Violent crime is something that can’t be fixed at the drop of a hat, but with an unprecedented level of cooperation between state and federal prosecutors, I believe we together can continue to make great progress in making this region safer and more secure. With the Safer Streets Initiative, we can stand together against those who would bring violence to our streets, and can replace the violence with safer, vibrant neighborhoods” said Schmitt.

Schmitt launched his Safer Streets Initiative in St. Louis on January 22nd, and has taken steps to reach out to affected communities in St. Louis, meeting with residents at Mount Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in St. Louis to hear their concerns and answer their questions about violent crime.

Today, Attorney General Schmitt announced that he was expanding the Safer Streets Initiative to help combat burgeoning violent crime rates in Kansas City. Under the Safer Streets Initiative, three to five experienced lawyers will be named “Special Assistant United States Attorneys” to help assist in fighting and prosecuting violent crime.

The Special Assistant United States Attorneys will handle all types of federal cases, specifically homicides, carjackings, and gun crimes. The increased prosecutorial support will help to more fully prosecute violent crime and build on the successes of law enforcement in Kansas City.

Another component of the Safer Streets Initiative is continual community outreach, and Schmitt and his office will be reaching out to affected communities, neighborhoods, and families in the Kansas City area to hear their concerns and answer their questions about violent crime.