Attorney General Barr Expands Operation Legend to Several Cities
On July 8, 2020, Attorney General William Barr announced the launch of Operation Legend, a law enforcement initiative that combines efforts of local and federal law enforcement to combat surges of violence across America. It began in Kansas City, MO and has now expanded to several other states that have seen a recent increase of violence.
In a Department of Justice (DOJ) release, Barr said, “The Department’s Operation Legend is named in honor of one of Kansas City’s youngest victims, four-year old LeGend Taliferro who was shot in the face while sleeping in his bed. LeGend’s death is a horrifying reminder that violent crime left unchecked is a threat to us all and cannot be allowed to continue.”
Under Operation Legend, federal agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), U.S. Marshal Service, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) are expected to pool their resources and combat upticks in crime.
Larry Cosme, National President of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, said in a statement, “[Operation Legend] was created with the understanding that cooperation between all levels of law enforcement is the most effective way to ensure criminal activity is addressed and public safety is maintained.” He highlighted, “The unfortunate reality is that some state and local law enforcement departments lack the necessary resources to fight escalating crime in their localities, particularly as the coronavirus pandemic continues to threaten the lives of law enforcement.”
On July 22, 2020, Operation Legend was extended to Chicago, IL and Albuquerque, NM. According to the DOJ release, Chicago has seen a 51% increase in homicide rates from 2019. The Bureau of Justice Assistance will make available $3.5 million in funding to reimburse the Chicago Police Department and City of Chicago for the work of local law enforcement on federal task forces, and the COPS Office has also made $9.375 million available to the Chicago Police Department to fund the hiring of 75 officers.
In Albuquerque, the DOJ has also provided assistance through the Joint Law Enforcement Operations (JLEO) fund to reimburse local law enforcement serving as federal task force officers with FBI, ATF, DEA, and the U.S. Marshals Service. These JLEO funds also will be used to assist the City of Albuquerque in acquiring new technology to detect gunshots and develop an integrated response plan to gunshots for local law enforcement. Additionally, Albuquerque is receiving funds from the COPS Office to hire more officers, and the DOJ is sending federal investigators to assist local law enforcement in the city.
On July 29, 2020, Operation Legend was extended to Cleveland, OH, Detroit, MI, and Milwaukee, WI, which are all cities that have seen an increase in their violent crime rates according to the DOJ release announcing the expansion. Cleveland is experiencing an increase in violent crime and homicides are up more than 13 percent over 2019. Homicides are up in Detroit nearly 31 percent. In Milwaukee, homicides are up 85 percent this year, and non-fatal shootings are up 64 percent.
Attorney General Barr explained in the release, “For decades, the Department of Justice has achieved significant success when utilizing our anti-violent crime task forces and federal law enforcement agents to enforce federal law and assist American cities that are experiencing upticks in violent crime. The Department of Justice’s assets will supplement local law enforcement efforts, as we work together to take the shooters and chronic violent criminals off of our streets.”
On August 6, 2020, Operation Legend was extended to Memphis, TN and St. Louis, MO. In addition to other resources, the Bureau of Justice Assistance will make available $200,000 to support Operation Legend’s violent crime reduction efforts in Memphis and $1 million to support local law enforcement in shot spotter responses and violent crime investigations in St. Louis. St. Louis is also receiving two Special Assistant U.S. Attorneys from the Missouri Attorney General’s Office to support violent crime prosecutions.
Black Lives Matter Chicago and several other activist groups filed a lawsuit on July 23, 2020 against Acting Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Chad Wolf in opposition to the increase in federal law enforcement in local jurisdictions, claiming that federal forces are “interfering in or otherwise policing lawful and peaceful assemblies and protests.”