US Attorney’s Office, ATF and Norwalk Police Announce New Partnership Targeting Gun Crimes

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TheUnited States Attorney for the District of Connecticut, the Bureau of Alcohol,Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) and the Norwalk Police Department todayannounced an enhanced law enforcement effort targeting individuals whoillegally possess and use firearms in Norwalk.
Thenew partnership utilizes the model developed through the Project SafeNeighborhoods (PSN) initiative, a comprehensive approach to reducing gunviolence and promoting safe communities. Since 2001, PSN has been establishedin cities across the country, including several in Connecticut, and has been asuccessful vehicle for prosecuting serious and persistent offenders who possessfirearms. Through PSN, investigative task forces comprising federal and locallaw enforcement officers respond to each incident that involves the seizure ofa firearm. State and federal prosecutors then work together to determine theappropriate forum for prosecution of a defendant.
"Thisnew initiative will enhance our existing relationship in order to ensure thatNorwalk’s most persistent and dangerous offenders who illegally possess and useguns are removed from the community for a long period of time," statedU.S. Attorney David B. Fein.
"Asthe federal agency whose mission is to fight violent crime, ATF is focused oncombining efforts with our law enforcement partners and using every toolavailable in getting dangerous criminals off our streets and keeping ourcommunities safe," stated Guy N. Thomas, Special Agent in Charge, ATFBoston Field Division.
"I’mdelighted that we have been chosen to participate in this program," statedNorwalk Police Chief Thomas E. Kulhawik. "We have always enjoyed anexcellent working relationship with our federal partners, and this designationas a Project Safe Neighborhood city will greatly enhance that partnership. Thisnew collaboration will allow us to provide an even greater level of lawenforcement service to the Norwalk community."
AssistantUnited States Attorney Vanessa Richards has been assigned as the Office’sliaison for Project Safe Neighborhoods in Norwalk. In addition, a NorwalkPolice officer has been assigned to the ATF as a full–time ATF task forceofficer. AUSA Richards, Assistant State’s Attorney Suzanne Vieux, the ATF taskforce officer and others will meet once a month to review all arrests inNorwalk during which a firearm was seized. The team will then determine whetherthe appropriate forum for prosecution is in state or federal court. Defendantswith lengthy criminal records are subject to prosecution in federal court,where penalties related to the use, possession and or sale or a firearm areoften more severe.
Federaland state prosecutors also will work with the officers and agents on the taskforce to conduct regular training sessions with the Norwalk Police Departmentto discuss relevant issues in gun and gang investigations. Also, prosecutorswill coordinate with adult probation and parole offices in Norwalk and Stamfordto conduct meetings with offenders to explain federal firearms laws andpenalties. The offender meetings aim not only to deter gun possession and othercrimes by offenders, but also to spread the message that federal lawenforcement is taking a more active role in the city of Norwalk.