Law Enforcement Officials Introduce Safe Streets Task Force

Safe streets in Cedar Rapids is the goal of a multi-jurisdictional operation combining local, state, and federal law enforcement resources. The Cedar Rapids Safe Streets Task Force was introduced today by United States Attorney Stephanie Rose at a press conference at the Cedar Rapids Police Department’s Community Connections office in southeast Cedar Rapids.

“This task force will work to put the worst and most dangerous offenders behind bars—either state or federal,” said Rose. “People who illegally possess guns, those who commit drug offenses, and repeat offenders should expect that their cases will be screened to determine if state or federal prosecution will take them out of the community for the longest possible time. Whichever works best will be pursued.”

The Safe Streets Task Force is made up of law enforcement officers from the Federal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; United States Marshals Service; Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation; Cedar Rapids Police Department; Marion Police Department; Sixth Judicial District Department of Correctional Services; Linn County Sheriff’s Office; and Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals. The United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Iowa and the Linn County Attorney’s Office are also partners in the task force. The task force was formalized in December 2009.

Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun of the FBI said, “This task force is based on a national model used successfully in other jurisdictions since 1992. The concept combines the FBI’s and other federal agencies’ experience in long-term, complex investigations and local law enforcement’s experience and familiarity with the local community to address gang, drug, and violent crime.”

According to Cedar Rapids Police Chief Greg Graham, “The Safe Streets Task Force was formed in response to violent and drug crime and a gang presence in Cedar Rapids. We plan to use our best resources—local, state, and federal—to combat these problems.”

Resources from the Safe Streets Task Force will be available to all law enforcement agencies with related investigations, whether or not those agencies are members of the task force.