FY 2008 Project Safe Neighborhoods

Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a nationwide commitment to reducing gun crime, links existing local programs together and provides them with necessary tools. PSN 1) takes a hard line against gun criminals, using every available means to create safer neighborhoods; 2) seeks to achieve heightened coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement; and 3) emphasizes tactical intelligence gathering, more aggressive prosecutions, and enhanced accountability through performance measures. The United States Attorney in each federal judicial district will lead the offensive. The fiscal agent, in coordination with the PSN Task Force, will allocate funds throughout the community.

The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department, serving as the fiscal agent for the Eastern District of Missouri, will use the grant to provide proactive patrols within the North Patrol and District One areas and special enforcement initiatives in North St. Louis County. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department will identify neighborhoods with a high level of criminal activity, targeting known gang members and their residences. The grant will pay for police overtime to conduct surveillance, collect and analyze intelligence, and train officers in various interview, interrogation, patrol, and defense tactics. The St. Louis County Police Department's overtime project will support the special enforcement initiatives that specifically address crime and gangs in North St. Louis County. Officers will use high-visibility patrols and less traditional covert means of apprehending violent criminals with the goal of reducing gang violence by five percent within the targeted area.

NCA/NCF