Joint task force will target gangs

Fri., July 14, 2006

From Staff Reports The Spokesman-Review

Spokane city and county law enforcement are joining with federal agencies to fight gang members who commit violent crime.

Over the last nine months, Spokane police and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office have seen a rise in crimes in which guns were fired or used to threaten others, said Spokane police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee.

Now, to make the best use of tax dollars, “we’re forming this task force to best protect the public,” he said Thursday.

The federal agencies participating in the task force are the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the U.S. Marshals Service, the FBI and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

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