The U.S. Justice Department (DOJ) announced Birmingham is among the 12 cities that will receive federal aid to help fight violent crime.
DOJ said Tuesday the new National Public Safety Partnership, dubbed “PSP,” initiative comes on the heels of President Donald Trump‘s February executive order on public safety. The partnership provides a framework for enhancing federal support of state, local and tribal law enforcement officials and prosecutors as they aggressively investigate and pursue violent criminals, specifically those involved in gun crime, drug trafficking and gang violence.
News of its formation came before the opening session of a national summit organized by the Attorney General’s Task Force on Crime Reduction and Public Safety.
“Turning back the recent troubling increase of violent crime in our country is a top priority of the Department of Justice and the Trump Administration, as we work to fulfill the president’s promise to make America safe again,” Attorney General Jeff Sessions said in a statement.
According to the DOJ, the initial 12 cities are that ones need “significant assistance” in combating “gun crime, drug trafficking and gang violence.”
The 12 cities that have been selected are: Birmingham, Ala.; Indianapolis, In.; Memphis, Tenn.; Toledo, Ohio; Baton Rouge, La.; Buffalo, NY; Cincinnati, Ohio; Huston, Texas; Jackson, Tenn.; Kansas City, Mo; Lansing, Mi; and Springfield, Ill.