U.S. Attorney’s Office Launches Project Safe Neighborhoods Lubbock

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Texas – in partnership with the Lubbock Police Department and a host of other federal, state, and local law enforcement partners – today launched Project Safe Neighborhoods Lubbock, its third PSN initiative in North Texas, announced U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox.

A nationwide program spearheaded by the Justice Department, Project Safe Neighborhoods surges federal and local resources to communities’ most violent neighborhoods in order to root out the area’s worst offenders and build positive relationships with crime victims and witnesses.  

The PSN Lubbock Taskforce – which includes officers, agents, and staff from the Lubbock Police Department, Lubbock County Sheriff’s Office, Lubbock County District Attorney’s Office, Texas Department of Public Safety, U.S. Attorney’s Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service and Homeland Security Investigations – worked with a university criminologist to analyze city-wide crime data and zeroed in on a violent crime “hotspot” in central Lubbock, west of I-27 and north of the South Loop:

Data showed violent crime –including assault, and robberies – creeping up in the region. Aggravated assaults, for example, rose more than 28% over four years. The Taskforce felt the region could benefit from Project Safe Neighborhood’s three-pronged approach, which combines traditional enforcement with community outreach and recidivism reduction.

To that end, the Taskforce created an email tip line where members of the community can reach out: LubbockPSN@atf.gov.  The inbox is monitored by federal agents who will route comments and concerns to the appropriate authority.  Lubbock’s Crime Line will offer monetary rewards for information leading to the successful federal prosecution of PSN crimes in Lubbock.  

“Project Safe Neighborhoods is a collaborative initiative that draws upon the collective wisdom of our local, state and federal law enforcement partners to reach a common goal: Reducing violent crime inside the PSN hotspot and citywide,” said U.S. Attorney Erin Nealy Cox. “We’ve found that when crime lacks a geographic locus, it dissipates. And when a community trusts law enforcement, it thrives.”  

“The Lubbock Police Department takes the protection of its citizens and their quality of life very seriously. We use all the available tools and resources to bring criminals to justice and make our communities stronger through active engagement,” said Lubbock Police Chief Jerry D. Brewer.

"The FBI is pleased to continue our support for the Project Safe Neighborhoods initiative," said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. "We remain committed to working closely with our federal, state, and local law enforcement partners to ensure the safety and well being of the Lubbock community."

To date, the Northern District of Texas has launched two other PSN initiatives: PSN Dallas and PSN Amarillo. Both have proved enormously successful. For more information on PSN, visit: https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/project-safe-neighborhood-psn-revitalized-2018.