Dept Of Justice Sends State Millions To Combat Violent Crime

The U.S. Department of Justice is sending grants to agencies across the state to fight violent crime in Oklahoma.

The Justice Department said more than $400,000,000 will go towards law enforcement agencies around the country, including in Tulsa.

$8.5 million will go to combating violent crime in Oklahoma. Trent Shores, the U.S Attorney for the Northern District of Oklahoma, said Justice entities, local police, and district attorneys will benefit.

“When we talk about where these grants will go toward, it’s standing up, community-based initiative to bring together members of the community, law enforcement, and to tackle a common problem.” Shores said.

Shores said $900,000 will go to the Tulsa Police Department. Captain Shellie Seibert said they plan to use all that money to help revitalize the Eugene Field Neighborhood in two ways and that is enforcement and education.

“We’ll go out and do crime prevention, engage in youth enrichment,” Seibert said.

Captain Seibert said in the past three years, violent crime has gone up in the Eugene Field Neighborhood by 12%, while the rate in the rest of the city has gone down by 3%.

“I think what we have seen in our police department in our new Chief is more crime prevention and this a perfect time,” Seibert said.

Tulsa County District Attorney Steve Kunzweiler said almost a million dollars will go to his office.

“This award from the Bureau of Justice Assistance is certainly a positive step forward in our effort to develop innovative and research-based solutions to this expanding area of the law,” Kunzweiler said.

Kunzweiler said his office will also involve local partners.

“We are partnering with Family and Children’s Services to examine and implement best practices so that individuals suffering from mental illness might be diverted away from criminal prosecution, and towards restorative treatment options,” Kunzweiler said.