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Home My WebLink AboutSubmittal-Vice Chair SarnoffFederal 'Surge' of Crime Fighters in Philadelphia - WSJ.com 4, http://online.wsj.com/article/SB 100008723963904432954045775454... Maiday, July 23, 2012 As of 9:31 PM New York U.S. U.S. Edition Home Today's Paper People In The News Video Bogs Journal Community Subscribe Log In W lord U.S. New York Business Markets Tech Personal Finance Life & Culture Opinion Careers Real Estate Smell Business Election 2012 Wastngton Wire The Obama Budget Capital Journal Economy San Francisco Bay Area WSJ/NBC News Poll Journal Reports Column & Biogs TOP STORES IV U.S. A Big -Sky Battle Over Bison U.S. NEWS I July 23, 2012, 9:31 p.m ET 20112 Russian Spies Aimed to Make Children Agents Federal 'Surge' of Crime Fighters in Philadelphia Article By EVAN PEREZ Comments (11) 30112 Suspect Mailed Drawings of Havoc ME MORE IN US Federal authorities and Philadelphia city officials on Monday unveiled a law -enforcement "surge' strategy to combat high rates of murder and other violent crime in a city seemingly immune to the national trend toward safety. Attorney General Eric Holder, at a City Hall announcement alongside Mayor Michael Nutter, said the federal government had assigned more than 50 federal agents, intelligence analysts and investigators to the city during a four -month period. Available to WSJ.com Subscribers Fed Moving Closer to Action Obama Keeps Lead as Anxiety Rises The move is part of a broader plan that taps federal resources to bolster state and local law -enforcement agencies under tight budget constraints. Agents are temporarily shifted Bank of England from other postings to focus intensely on a troubled city, with surges typically carried out Spotted Risks at J.P. in different cities at different times. Morgan The targets of the operations are career criminals who specialize in armed robberies, carjackings, murders and drug dealing. Such criminals may be subject to federal prosecution, which often carries tougher penalties than state prosecution. Ka'Nard Alen, center, at a May igil for a 5-year-old cousin Idled In New Orleans in a shooting that Injured Ka'Nerd. The city has recehed federal help In a crime -fighting plan that also Is In place in Philadelphia Instead of reacting to crimes as they happen, investigators will work with informants to build cases against known felons —such as a group of armed men who were arrested last week in Philadelphia as they allegedly planned to carry out a home invasion of a drug stash house, federal officials said. Overall violent -crime rates are down across the U.S., according to statistics collected by the Federal Bureau of Investigation from police departments around the nation. But in Philadelphia, which began the year with a violent -crime wave, murders are up 8% this year from the same period last year, while shootings have increased about 3%, according to police. Amid lean budgets, the number of officers is now below 6,500, down from about 6,700 in recent years. "Our overall goals are to Identify, investigate and prosecute the worst of the worst,' Sheree L. Mlxell, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives special agent in charge in Philadelphia, said in an Interview. Similar programs have recently been put in place in Oakland, Calif., and New Orleans. Others are expected around the country, in cities where crime rates are increasing or have remained high. The operation in Philadelphia, a city of about 1.54 million people, is the biggest yet. 1 of 3 Submitted into the public record in connection with items melon 07-26-12 Priscilla A. Thompson City Clerk New U.S. Afghan Air Base Lacks Warplanes F .f. "s,T oso Don't Miss... Why More Heavy A Surprise Hit Selling May be Spawns a Movie Ahead for Stocks Deal 03:46 02:25 Powered by Taboola Appeals Court Strikes Down Marriage Law 05:09 Most Popular Read Ensiled l Video Cormlented 1. Say Goodbye to First -Class on U.S. Airlines 2. A Surprise Flit Spawns a Movie Deal 3. 110 MPH Trains Speed Into the Midwest 4 • Afghan Air Force May Not Be Ready to Fly Solo 5. What Happens When Medals Go Missing From Around the Web Powered by Taboola 7/26/2012 10:08 AM Federal 'Surge' of Crime Fighters in Philadelphia - WSJ.com http://online.wsj.conilarticle/SB100008723963904432954045775454... Mr. Holder said the initiative has helped produce a reduction in clime in Oakland. In Philadelphia, where the surge began in early June, authorities have seized more than 80 firearms and arrested more than 300 people for alleged violent -crime, drug, firearms and other offenses, he said. Still to be seen is whether the effort can bring permanent change. Violent criminals may lie low when agents are active, only to return when the surge ends. Agents selected for a surge represent a mix of criminal specialists who know how to build intelligence on targets, experts in ballistics and other longtime investigators who specialize in undercover work. Mr. Holder said ATF agents from other cities had been dispatched to Philadelphia. The city will get more help from the FBI, the Drug Enforcement Administration and the U.S. Marshals Service, and the Justice Department has sent in new equipment to conduct ballistics tests. We need all the help we can get," said Philadelphia Police Commissioner Charles Ramsey. Zane Memeger, U.S. attorney in Philadelphia, said in an interview that his prosecutors will bring federal charges where possible. Already up to 48°A, of his office's case load Involves firearms and narcotics crimes. He said the challenge in Philadelphia's roughest neighborhoods is battling the 'no -snitch culture," which makes prosecution difficult. Ball is often easier to obtain in the state system, which means suspects are back on the street, in some cases possibly intimidating witnesses, while they await their court date. Certain felons caught with guns are less likely to get bail In federal court. 'The reality is that we have officers on the street, agents on the street, and people see something, but they refuse to say anything to us,Mr. Memeger said. Write to Evan Perez at evan.perez4wsi.com A version of this article appeared July 24, 2012, on page A4 in the U.S. edition of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: Federal 'Surge' of Crime fighters in Philadelphia. JOIN THE DISCUSSION 11 Comments, add yours MORE IN US » Don't Miss... 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(HouseLogic) Teacher of the Year Gets Laid Off crakePam Add a Comment View All Comments (11) JOURNAL COMMUNITY Community rules Content From Sponsors The Scariest Ap pa tition Yet Trawi Channel • ped Of: Hiring Storage Wars: A ten Life Changing Unit AV Submitted into the public record in connection with items D2-I on 07-26-12 Priscilla A. Thompson City Clerk 2 of 3 7/26/2012 10:08 AM