St. Louis will be getting additional resources to continue combating gun crimes.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives will add agents and analysts to the city for the next 60 days. Federal officials would not say exactly how many additional law enforcement personnel will be in the area. The U.S. Attorney's Office, FBI and Department of Homeland Security, among others, are also participating.
Butch Hansen, special agent in charge of the ATF's Kansas City field office, which oversees operations in St. Louis, said the federal surge is meant to develop cases that lead to more than just one arrest.
"A cartridge casing recovered in one shooting may help connect that crime to another shooting or firearm. A crime trace may help investigators identify a trafficking pattern, or the source supplying firearms to violent offenders in the city," he said. "When we connect that information across agencies and jurisdictions, we give investigators a more complete picture of the violence affecting the city."
Homicides are down 35% since 2022, and shootings are down 38% over the same time. St. Louis Police Chief Robert Tracy said his officers deserve tremendous credit for the trend, but he welcomed the federal help as he increases department staffing.
"If it takes several months or you know a year, a year and a half, why not take these resources and have them to do discretionary work?" he said. "I think it's a win-win situation."
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