Today, Deputy Attorney General (DAG) Lisa O. Monaco traveled to Philadelphia to highlight the Department of Justice’s ongoing efforts to combat violent crime and gun violence through strong federal and local law enforcement partnerships and collaboration with community-based organizations.
DAG Monaco began her day at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania with a roundtable meeting of state, local and federal law enforcement leaders to discuss the strong partnerships that Philadelphia area law enforcement are using to tackle violent crime and gun violence. The DAG was joined by leaders from the Justice Department law enforcement components in the area, representatives of the Pennsylvania State Police, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw and other representatives of the Philadelphia Police Department and Chief of the Wilmington, Delaware Police Department Robert Tracy. Their conversation focused on the successful intelligence-sharing behind law enforcement’s targeting of the most significant drivers of violent crime in the Greater Philadelphia Area.
The DAG also convened a separate roundtable discussion with community advocates, survivors of gun violence, families who have lost loved ones to gun violence and medical experts to discuss the impact of gun violence on local Philadelphia communities. During the discussion, the DAG heard personal and painful stories from parents whose children were killed by gun violence, who now devote their time to speaking directly with other parents, young adults and children to interrupt the cycle of violence in communities.
While at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the DAG met with U.S. Attorney Jacqueline Romero, who was sworn in earlier this week, and office leadership to discuss a variety of issues. The DAG also had a chance to hear from and thank the federal prosecutors of the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
The DAG then joined the Philadelphia Police Department for a ride-along through several neighborhoods in the city to witness both the impact of drug use and violent crime, as well as community policing strategies and collaborative partnerships to better understand neighborhood trends and needs, rebuild community trust, and target the most significant drivers of violent crime. On the ride-along, the DAG had the chance to meet with several Philadelphia Police Department officers who are working foot and bike patrols through local neighborhoods every day.
In the evening, DAG Monaco returned to Washington, D.C.