U.S. Attorney General Garland in Wichita for meeting on violent crime

WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW) — U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland visited Wichita Thursday morning to meet with local and state law enforcement leaders. He also announced an $846,000 Department of Justice grant to fund rape crisis centers and other services for sexual assault victims in Kansas.

“I mostly came here to thank the people who are sitting around this table who are really responsible and, with their law enforcement officers, risk their lives every day to keep people in Kansas safe,” he said. “They also represent the collaborative approach the Justice Department is using as its method of fighting violent crime as the best possible strategy.”

Garland recalled his time as an assistant U.S. attorney in the early 1990s and later as a supervisor of U.S. attorneys in the late 90s.

“I did guns and drug cases myself, and I supervised those cases, and what I very soon learned was it was the collaboration of state, local and federal law enforcement that was the key to resolving the issues of violent crime.”

Garland said that is why he is focused on fortifying law enforcement with the latest technological advances to get the biggest drivers of violent crime off the streets. He said it is working.

“Here in Kansas, violent crime was down 3.7% last year, according to the Kansas Bureau of Investigation,” he said. “Nationwide, we saw one of the lowest violent crime rates in 50 years and the largest drop in homicides in 50 years.”

He said the progress appears to be continuing in 2024. Last week, the Major Cities Chiefs Association reported violent crime was down an additional six percent across 70 major cities over the same six months in 2023.

“But we know that progress is uneven and that in many communities, violent crime has not fallen,” Garland said. “We also know that there is no level of violent crime that is acceptable.”

He said the Justice Department is working in Kansas and across the country to arrest violent felons, to seize and trace drugs used in crimes, and to disrupt violent drug trafficking.

“The Justice Department has made clear that it does not matter if you are a trafficker in a drug cartel or a medical professional. If you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable,” he said.

Garland said the $846,000 grant for Kansas sexual assault services programs is from the Department of Justice’s Office on Violence Against Women. Governor Laura Kelly’s office got notice of the award on Wednesday. A spokesperson said solicitation for this grant program will be released this fall for programs to apply.

Sedgwick County Sheriff Jeff Easter and Wichita Police Chief Joe Sullivan were two of the many law enforcement leaders who met with Garland and U.S. Attorney for Kansas Kate Brubacher.

Brubacher said it was their chance to speak with the U.S. attorney general about their concerns and the crimes they see in their communities. The meeting was held behind closed doors.

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