2023 Oklahoma Project Safe Neighborhood - Western District

The United States Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Oklahoma (WDOK) has selected a task force officer, cross-deputized with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), as their 2023 grant project. The WDOK’s 2023 project continues the success of Operation 922, which focuses on targeted enforcement of domestic violence offenders by using federal firearms laws to address the most violent domestic abusers, and Operation Shots Fired, which targets shooters in the community by utilizing federal firearms laws to charge, detain, and imprison those who use firearms in the commission of their crimes. This project will specifically fund personnel and benefits for a task force officer (TFO), who will utilize targeted strategic enforcement to screen and investigate domestic violence and firearms cases and work with federal and state prosecutors. The TFO will assist all partners in investigating cases referred to the USAO for prosecution, sign federal complaints and search warrants, and present to federal grand juries. The project reflects community engagement in that the TFO will refer domestic violence victims to appropriate services through the WDOK’s partner agencies and will collaborate with all partner agencies and any agencies referring cases for potential prosecution. The subgrant has not been selected as this time, but the subgrantee will be an agency in the Oklahoma City metro area. Domestic violence in the metro area is driven by firearm usage, specifically illegal usage by felons, and repeat domestic violence offenders, many of which have gang affiliations. The WDOK has determined that of all defendants charged under Operation 922 thus far, 34% have been gang members, whereas 55% of defendants under Operation Shots Fired have been gang members. The 30% set aside will easily be met, as the TFO will screen and investigate cases based on these two initiatives and will focus on the most violent offenders and those with gang affiliations and illegal firearm usage. Grant deliverables include quarterly PMT reports and semi-annual progress reports. Beneficiaries include: residents in the Oklahoma City metro area; law enforcement and prosecution within the Western District, specifically those agencies located in the metro area; and the WDOK and its partner agencies.