Mississippi law enforcement gearing up for statewide program to tackle violent gun crimes - FOX13 Memphis
SOUTHAVEN, Miss. — People who live in Southaven, Mississippi, may see more police on the streets in the near future.
It’s part of an FBI initiative called VGRIP, or Violent Gun Reduction and Interdiction Program, aimed to decrease violent crime, especially involving guns.
According to law enforcement, the country has seen a significant spike in gun violence during the pandemic. Mississippi officials want to do more than just address the issue.
“As we all know, there’s been an increase nationwide in violent crime over the past roughly two years,” said Clay Joyner, USAO for the Northern District of Mississippi.
VGRIP first launched in Jackson when the city began seeing trends in crimes related to violent crime.
Local law enforcement in the state wants to cut that crime from their communities.
Jermicha Fomby, the FBI’s Special Agent in Charge in Jackson, Mississippi, says the reason they’re expanding V-GRIP to Southaven is because it’s heavily populated.
Another reason is just across the state line.
“Also, just geography with the connection to Memphis, where there has been a spike in violent crime,” said Fomby.
Part of the program would prosecute violent crimes involving guns at the federal level. This includes possession of illegal firearms, possession of firearms by felons, armed robberies, and armed carjackings.
“We are engaged and prepared to address these issues as they arise,” said Fomby.
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Moving forward with the program, the various departments want to ensure public transparency so the community can know what’s happening in the places they live.
Fomby said, “We take proactive approaches to make sure that we’re ready to address these issues before they are already a problem.”
Residents who live in the Southaven area spoke with FOX13 about the program.
They believe if law enforcement wants to take an approach like this, they need to start in Memphis.
As they begin the initiative statewide, law enforcement will focus on strategies and approaches to branch VGRIP into Southaven.
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source: https://www.fox13memphis.com/news/local/mississippi-law-enforcement-gearing-up-statewide-program-tackle-violent-gun-crimes/G2BYJKWOHFG2TFMNW7BX5TQHTY/
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