ATF’s Collaborative Approach with Local Law Enforcement

| by Max Soni

Last Updated on: 15th September 2023, 11:10 pm

ATF’s Collaborative Approach with Local Law Enforcement

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) plays a critical role in combatting violent crime across the United States. A key part of ATF’s strategy is developing strong partnerships with local law enforcement agencies. These collaborations allow ATF to leverage local knowledge and resources to more effectively enforce federal firearms laws and reduce gun violence.

ATF has a long history of working jointly with local police departments, prosecutors, and other agencies. In recent years, ATF has made strengthening these relationships an even greater priority. The benefits of collaboration are clear. Partnerships give ATF access to critical on-the-ground intelligence about firearm trafficking patterns and dangerous dealers. Local agencies gain the expertise and tools of a major federal law enforcement organization. Together, they can investigate and prosecute complex cases that neither could handle alone.

Joint Task Forces and Ballistics Technology

A prime example of ATF-local collaboration are joint task forces focused on reducing gun violence. For instance, ATF and the Rochester Police Department formed a joint task force in 2022 to curb surging gun crime in the city[1]. Rochester saw a dramatic spike in shootings and homicides during the COVID-19 pandemic. ATF agents have teamed up with RPD officers to use advanced investigative techniques to track down traffickers supplying firearms to criminals.

Cutting-edge ballistics technology is one important tool. When bullets or shell casings are recovered from crime scenes, ATF can test-fire seized guns and compare the unique markings left on each round. This allows investigators to link specific firearms to multiple shootings, even across different jurisdictions. These leads can break open major trafficking cases. Ballistics hits have connected guns used in Rochester crimes to suppliers in states like Florida, Georgia, South Carolina and Texas.

ATF houses this ballistics intelligence in a nationwide database called the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN). By sharing this data with local agencies, ATF strengthens the fight against gun crime across city and state lines. This information sharing allows both ATF and local police to build cases that neither could construct alone.

Industry Outreach and Diversion Prevention

ATF also collaborates with local law enforcement to engage the firearms industry and prevent the diversion of guns to criminals. Outreach programs educate dealers on safely securing their inventories and detecting potential straw purchases. ATF agents make compliance inspections of gun shops and work to quickly identify and prosecute corrupt dealers.

For instance, ATF and local police may cross-reference trace data on crime guns recovered in a city with the sales records of area dealers. If one shop shows a pattern of selling firearms that end up in crimes, ATF can launch a targeted investigation. This might reveal a rogue dealer conspiring with traffickers. Or it could prompt outreach to an unwitting dealer to improve security and sales practices.

ATF also works with local law enforcement to monitor large gun shows. These events can be a source of firearms that are later used in crimes if sellers fail to follow laws on background checks and paperwork. By having a visible presence, ATF agents and local police can deter illegal sales.

Partnerships at Every Level

ATF collaboration with local agencies occurs at all levels of leadership. ATF’s director and field division supervisors regularly meet with police chiefs, mayors and prosecutors from their areas. These exchanges help identify trends in trafficking patterns or problem dealers to target.

Rank-and-file ATF agents and local detectives work cases together on a day-to-day basis. They share intelligence during meetings of joint task forces and gun crime working groups. ATF also deploys agents to embed within local homicide and gang units. This gives them real-time access to crime gun evidence and data.

Cooperative programs facilitate the exchange of investigative information between ATF and thousands of local agencies. For example, over 500 police departments participate in ATF’s Crime Gun Intelligence Centers Initiative[2]. CGICs allow seamless information sharing to identify shooters and traffickers.

Tracing Firearms and Targeting Enforcement

Firearms tracing is an essential starting point for many ATF-local collaborations. When police recover guns at crime scenes, they can submit trace requests through ATF’s eTrace system. This initiates a search of the gun’s history from manufacturer to purchaser. Tracing provides leads for follow-up criminal investigations.

Analysis of aggregate trace data also guides ATF’s enforcement strategy. With local input, ATF can spot trafficking trends and target resources at the biggest threats. For example, trace data might show that a large share of crime guns in a city come from only a handful of corrupt dealers. ATF could then work with local police to crack down on those problem dealers.

To further these efforts, ATF announced in 2021 that it would improve coordination with local officials who have on-the-ground knowledge about dealers linked to recovered crime guns[3]. Each ATF field division now has a designated point of contact for this critical information sharing with mayors, police chiefs and other local leaders.

Violent Crime Reduction Partnerships

ATF’s Violent Crime Reduction Partnerships take collaboration to the next level. These initiatives embed ATF agents within specialized local enforcement teams to focus on the most dangerous offenders fueling violence.

For example, ATF agents may join with county sheriffs to target violent rural drug traffickers. Or ATF could partner with a gang unit to take down an urban gang engaged in murder, shootings and robbery. These joint teams combine the strongest capabilities of each agency.

By leveraging local intelligence, ATF can concentrate resources against the specific criminals driving violent crime. These partnerships have

proven highly effective. ATF analysis shows murders dropped over 30% in cities with Violent Crime Reduction Partnerships versus less than 5% in comparable cities without them[4].

For instance, ATF and the Kansas City Police Department formed a joint task force in 2020 as part of the federal Operation Legend program[1]. This partnership embedded ATF agents within KCPD’s homicide unit to help solve open murder cases. It provided a surge of federal agents to combat a spike in violent crime linked to the pandemic.

By combining resources, the initiative led to over 200 arrests and took more than 600 illegal firearms off Kansas City streets in just a few months[5]. Other cities like Chicago, Albuquerque and Detroit saw similar success from Operation Legend task forces[6].

Comprehensive Violent Crime Strategies

While joint operations provide immediate investigative muscle, ATF also collaborates with local agencies on comprehensive violence reduction strategies. These long-term plans address root causes of crime like poverty, addiction and lack of education and jobs.

For example, ATF agents participate in anti-violence programs that help at-risk youth through counseling, mentoring and social services. ATF works with violence interrupters who intervene to mediate conflicts before they escalate. And ATF supports local re-entry initiatives that provide training and job placement for individuals leaving incarceration.

Community trust and engagement are essential for these efforts. ATF special agents build relationships with residents and groups like churches that provide intelligence on violent actors. This allows tailored enforcement targeting the main drivers of local gun crime.

ATF also strives to include input from all stakeholders when formulating enforcement initiatives. For instance, ATF held community meetings in 10 cities in 2021 to gather recommendations on reducing violent crime from a diverse range of voices. This local perspective helps shape strategies that balance enforcement with prevention.

Conclusion

ATF’s collaborative approach recognizes that no single agency can tackle violent crime alone. Partnerships allow ATF and local law enforcement to amplify each other’s strengths. Joint operations and task forces provide immediate investigative impact and take dangerous offenders off the street.

But lasting violence reduction requires a holistic model. ATF’s community engagement helps build trust and ensure enforcement aligns with local needs. And ATF supports comprehensive strategies that address the root causes that drive violence.

With strong local relationships as a cornerstone, ATF can continue making unique contributions to protecting the public from violent crime and gun violence.