JACKSON, Miss. ( WJTV ) – U.S. Attorney Todd Gee announced the establishment of a carjacking task force in the Jackson-metro area to focus efforts and resources on this important public safety threat.

“The threat of being carjacked creates fear in people’s daily lives, whether in their driveway or when loading groceries at the store,” said Gee. “The Department of Justice will work together with federal, state, and local law enforcement in the Jackson metro area to leverage all of our resources to investigate and prosecute carjackings.”

In keeping with the Justice Department’s Comprehensive Strategy for Reducing Violent Crime , officials said the task force represents a strategic enforcement priority for the department, focusing federal resources on identifying, investigating, and prosecuting the most significant drivers of violent crime.

“The Jackson Police Department will work together with our federal, state and local law enforcement partners as a part of the carjacking task force in Jackson,” said Jackson Police Chief Joseph Wade. “We are witnessing on a regular basis the benefits of working collaboratively in order to combat crime.”

“I am proud of the collaborative effort among local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies and our ability to tackle crime and uphold public safety, demonstrating the power of unity and coordination in law enforcement,” said Capitol Police Chief Bo Luckey. “We will utilize all branches of our law enforcement resources to ensure that every avenue of accountability is pursued, and these criminals are held accountable.”

The newly formed task force will be led by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with state, local and other law enforcement partners, including the Jackson Police Department and the Capitol Police.

According to officials, task force members will share and act promptly on information related to car thefts, carjackings and the recovery of stolen or suspect vehicles. The task forces will also collaborate on how to use federal sentencing enhancements for cases where adults use juveniles to commit carjackings, as well as working with state and local authorities to ensure the appropriate handling of juvenile suspects.

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