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United States Attorneys OfficeNorthern District of Iowa

United States Attorney Stephanie M. Rose

PRESS RELEASE For further information contact:Bob TeigFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (319) 363-6333Date: April 21, 2010 Cedar Rapids, Iowa

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS INTRODUCE SAFE STREETS TASK FORCE

Safe streets in Cedar Rapids is the goal of a multi-jurisdictional operationcombining local, state, and federal law enforcement resources. The Cedar Rapids SafeStreets Task Force was introduced today by United States Attorney Stephanie Rose ata press conference at the Cedar Rapids Police Departments Community Connections

office in southeast Cedar Rapids.

This task force will work to put the worst and most dangerous offenders behindbars either state or federal, said Rose. People who illegally possess guns, thosewho commit drug offenses, and repeat offenders should expect that their cases will bescreened to determine if state or federal prosecution will take them out of thecommunity for the longest possible time. Whichever works best will be pursued.

The Safe Streets Task Force is made up of law enforcement officers from theFederal Bureau of Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration; Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement;

United States Marshals Service; Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation; Cedar RapidsPolice Department; Marion Police Department; Sixth Judicial District Department ofCorrectional Services; Linn County Sheriffs Office; and Iowa Department of Inspectionsand Appeals. The United States Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Iowa andthe Linn County Attorneys Office are also partners in the task force. The task forcewas formalized in December 2009.

Special Agent in Charge Weysan Dun of the FBI said this task force is based ona national model used successfully in other jurisdictions since 1992. The conceptcombines the FBIs and other federal agencies experience in long term, complexinvestigations and local law enforcements experience and familiarity with the local

community to address gang, drug, and violent crime.

According to Cedar Rapids Police Chief Greg Graham, the Safe Streets TaskForce was formed in response to violent and drug crime and a gang presence in CedarRapids. We plan to use our best resources local, state, and federal to combatthese problems.

Resources from the Safe Streets Task Force will be available to all lawenforcement agencies with related investigations, whether or not those agencies aremembers of the task force.

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