Officials today announced what may be an unprecedented assault on violent street crimes in Harrisburg. Local, county and federal law enforcement agencies have committed to a partnership to get guns off the street and criminals behind bars.
It's no secret violent street crimes have surged in Harrisburg. On Friday Mayor Linda Thompson ordered two blocks of Curtin Street barricaded following an afternoon barrage of gunfire where city police found 24 spent shell casings. Then early the next morning two men were shot outside a South 19th Street bar.
Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico today said resources never used before are being put into play to assist Harrisburg. He is authorizing the use of members of the Dauphin County Crisis Response Team to join Harrisburg City Police during peak crime times. These officers from numerous departments in the county are familiar with the city and specifically trained for this type of assignment.
Perhaps more importantly, crimes that can be prosecuted under federal law will be where sentences are much tougher.
This new enforcement initiative could begin as early as this weekend. Police are not saying how man police officers will be working. Nor will they identify the locations and tactics under consideration