Attorney general creates state task force to focus on NJ gun violence

The New Jersey attorney general announced Tuesday the creation of a statewide task force that will concentrate specifically on investigating and prosecuting gun violence cases. 

Sent to police chiefs and county prosecutors throughout New Jersey, the directive also creates an information-sharing network that acting Attorney General Andrew Bruck said will ensure that the appropriate information gets to prosecutors when they need it. 

Too often, insufficient sharing among county, state and federal prosecutors with overlapping jurisdictions leads to information gaps that leave violent criminals on the streets, Bruck said.

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The sharing network, which will include all 21 counties, and the new task force will help remedy this, he said. 

"I have met with dozens of law enforcement leaders across New Jersey who consistently stressed the need for greater coordination with county, state, and federal prosecutors to reduce gun violence,” Bruck said in a statement. “We all recognize that criminal prosecution alone will not end gun violence in New Jersey, but when prosecution is necessary, we must do so as effectively and efficiently as possible."

The U.S. Attorney's Office, the state police, every county prosecutor and other law enforcement agencies will also be involved, the attorney general said. 

Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael Honig applauded the effort. 

"Our experience has shown that close cooperation among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners is the most effective way to combat violent crime," she said.

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The task force will be divided into three teams that will cover the northern, central and southern portions of the state. Bruck said they will include prosecutors at every level who will work together to find and prosecute gun cases.

The teams are modeled after city-specific task forces that already exist, the directive said. Known as "violent crime initiatives," the units have already been successful in places like Newark and Camden. 

Including every county is particularly important, the attorney general said, because even though most violent crime is concentrated in a handful of hard-hit communities, the investigations can span the entire state. 

"A firearm trafficked into New Jersey through Salem County might wind up as the murder weapon in a Paterson homicide; a vehicle stolen in Ocean County might be used as the getaway car in a Trenton shooting," Bruck said. "By improving information-sharing across agencies, we improve our ability to solve crimes and hold wrongdoers accountable throughout the Garden State."

Steve Janoski covers law enforcement for NorthJersey.com. For unlimited access to the most important news about those who safeguard your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: janoski@northjersey.com 

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