Project Safe Neighborhoods

The bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives (ATF) and the U.S. attorney for Oregon offer federal assistance to trace crime guns and extra resources to prosecute gun traffickers

PORTLAND, Ore. — Communities throughout Oregon can help reduce the threat of gun violence if every law enforcement department within the state pledges to trace 100 percent of the crime guns they recover.

That was the message from The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Oregon office of the U.S. Attorney to nearly 100 local law enforcement officials and county prosecutors during a recent training seminar, according to Fred Milanowski, Resident Agent in Charge for the ATF in Oregon.

“The technical resources of the ATF are available to help every police agency in Oregon trace a crime gun and assist local investigators identify where it came from,” said Milanowski. “We realize the difficult budget circumstances local agencies are in, so we are eager to provide these extra federal resources to help reduce gun crimes in their communities.”

“Often a crime gun is the critical link between incidents that span different police jurisdictions or the space of time or geography. By utilizing the ATF crime gun analysis branch, police and prosecutors can much more successfully connect the dots between different incidents. This data helps to make every community safer as a result of this coordinated effort to identify both the perpetrator and the supplier of the firearm, “Milanowski added.

This training and other educational efforts are part of Project Safe Neighborhoods, an innovative partnership among federal, state and local law enforcement and community leaders, who work together to reduce gun violence, according to Mike Mosman, the U.S. Attorney in Oregon, who chairs the effort.

Locally, the program specifically targets gang-related gun violence and crimes of domestic violence in which a gun is involved. Additionally, the program targets Armed Career Criminals: those who have three violent felony convictions, such as sex abuse, arson, assault, robbery or murder. In 2002, approximately 6,800 individuals were identified as potential Armed Career Criminals.

“Knowing who supplies the gun is a critical part of the investigation and the successful prosecution of a perpetrator of violence with a firearm,” said Mosman. By partnering with the ATF in the investigation and the local office of the U.S. Attorney in the prosecution, local police and prosecutors can refer gun crime cases for federal prosecution with the likelihood that the perpetrator will serve a much longer sentence in a federal prison if convicted. That effort also includes gun traffickers who may be illegally supplying firearms to criminals who go on to commit other crimes.

“The ATF Crime Gun Tracing program has been an extremely valuable resource for the officers and detectives of the Portland Police Bureau. This information has allowed officers and detectives to identify the sources of illegal firearms and has been an invaluable tool in the arrest of armed, violent criminals in Portland. The ATF training provides our officers with another significant tool to help in their investigations of armed criminals in our city,” said Lt. Eric Hendricks of the Portland Police Bureau’s Tactical Operations Division.

Milanowski said that in one case, investigated by ATF and the Portland Police Bureau, 15 firearms recovered at various crime scenes were traced through the ATF National Tracing Center (NTC). Three of these firearms were used in homicides in the Portland area and others were recovered from juveniles and convicted felons. The NTC was able to determine that the same individual purchased all fifteen firearms and an investigation was initiated. This investigation uncovered a straw-purchasing scheme involving two individuals. “These individuals were arrested and prosecuted before additional firearms could be purchased and sold on the street to violent criminals or juveniles,” Milanowski said.

“This case is a great example of the cooperation between ATF and the Portland Police Bureau. This partnership, coupled with the use of the ATF Crime Gun Statistics program, led to the arrest of several persons responsible for providing guns used in numerous violent crimes in Portland,” Hendricks added.

BACKGROUND ON PROJECT SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS

Project Safe Neighborhoods in Oregon will combine the following coordinated elements to reduce gun violence:

* Additional federal prosecutors have been assigned to prosecute suspects accused of federal firearms violations. District Attorneys’ offices around the state are working closely with the United States Attorney’s Office to refer appropriate cases for federal prosecution. It is anticipated that such efforts will result in more severe consequences for illegal gun possession.

* Additional investigative resources from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives (ATF) will be provided to local law enforcement agencies to aid in their investigation and prosecution of suspects who have allegedly committed firearms violations.

* Specialized training about federal firearms laws will be conducted for local law enforcement and prosecutors so they can recognize the potential for referring suspects for federal prosecution. Federal firearms charges bring higher mandatory sentences and, if convicted, place the offender in a federal prison.

* Outreach will be conducted to inform community, business and neighborhood leaders about how they can support the efforts of Project Safe Neighborhoods to ultimately reduce gun violence.

* Localized research and analysis will be conducted by Portland State University about gun crimes that have been perpetrated in Oregon. This data will help educate law enforcement officials, victims’ advocates and social service providers so they can better deploy their resources.

Strict enforcement of firearms laws and rigorous prosecution of offenders will be supported by outreach and prevention programs. Through this local community outreach, the prevention programs and a comprehensive public service campaign, Project Safe Neighborhoods will spread the message that gun violence is not tolerated in Oregon. For additional information about the program, visit www.projectsafeneighborhoods.gov.

All media inquiries about Project Safe Neighborhoods in Oregon should be directed to:

Fred Weinhouse
Assistant U.S. Attorney
U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Oregon
503-727-1000
E-mail: Fred Weinhouse