Expanded Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative: 'Operation TIDE' Launches in Detroit

18 July 2006

Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings, U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Murphy, Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy and Special Agent-in-Charge Valerie Goddard, ATF, announced today an unprecedented collaborative effort under the Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) initiative to prevent gun and gang violence called "Operation TIDE," (Tactical Intelligence Driven Enforcement) in Detroit's Northwest District. Operation TIDE, a Project Safe Neighborhoods Initiative brings the resources and power of ten federal, state and local law enforcement agencies together with the community to expand the current efforts to prevent violent crimes.

PSN-Operation TIDE is an intelligence driven strategy that launched May 5, 2006 in Detroit's Northwest District and has already resulted in an increase in felony arrests, with more than 115 resulting from the initiative, to date. Operation TIDE is helping to better determine crime patterns, identify the "worst of the worst," the city's most violent offenders and ultimately prevent crime in the City of Detroit. "Our strategy is to supercharge our crime prevention and enforcement efforts to reduce violent crimes in the City of Detroit using the intelligence and resources of all law enforcement agencies. Our police officers work everyday at addressing active and potential crime in our city limits. By collecting and disseminating the acquired intelligence among partnering agencies, crime patterns will be swiftly identified," said Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings.

"Since its inception, Project Safe Neighborhoods has resulted in a 34% reduction in violent crime and a 73% increase in firearm prosecutions nationally. In the Eastern District of Michigan, we have received more than 800 gun offender cases for federal prosecution; impacted more than 400 parolees and 15,000 youth through our prevention programs, Face to Face meetings with felons and Project Sentry school outreach; and have received hundreds of tips that have lead to the apprehension and arrest of felons with guns in our community through our public awareness campaign," said U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Murphy. Project Safe Neighborhoods is a long-term campaign that has assisted in taking many violent offenders off the streets of Detroit. "Gun and gang violence prevention is the highest priority for the U.S. Department of Justice, and we are making possible a $600,000 grant to launch this initiative in the Northwest District and move it into other priority districts in Detroit, including the Western District, Eastern District and Northeastern District," he added.

Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy said, "I am very happy to be working with all of our Project Safe Neighborhoods partners. True collaboration is the key to fighting crime. Law enforcement entities must be relentless in working toward a common goal in order to have an impact on the violence plaguing our communities."

Operation TIDE draws upon the current Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative strategy of suppression, deterrence, prevention/intervention, investigation, prosecution and public awareness and incorporates the resources of ten lawn enforcement agencies.

Operation TIDE Partners include U.S. Attorney Stephen J. Murphy -- Eastern District of Michigan; Special Agent-in-Charge Valerie Goddard of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives-Detroit; Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings; Special Agent-in-Charge Daniel D. Roberts, Federal Bureau of Investigations-Detroit; Robert M. Grubbs, United States Marshal -- Eastern District of Michigan; Special Agent-in-Charge Robert L. Corso, U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration: Michigan State Police Colonel Peter C. Munoz; Patricia Caruso, Michigan Department of Corrections; Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy; and Wayne County Sheriff Warren Evans.

For updated information about the Project Safe Neighborhoods Operation TIDE initiative, visit http://www.psnworks.org or call 1.800.891.8881. A fact sheet is attached detailing the specific tactics each agency brings to Operation TIDE. Media may contact Peggy Goodwin at 313.715.0199 or James Tate at 313.596.2200 for more information.

Contact:

Peggy K. Goodwin James Tate

Project Safe Neighborhoods Detroit Police Department

313.715.0199 313.596.2200

Source: prnewswire

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