DOJ expands Operation Legend to Indianapolis

The Department of Justice announced Friday it will be expanding its Operation Legend to Indianapolis to, "fight high levels of violent crime, particularly gun violence."

Operation Legend began in July in Kansas City, Missouri and has expanded to Chicago, Albuquerque, Cleveland, Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis and Memphis.

Attorney General Bill Barr says the city has had an increase in violent crime.

The Department of Justice says it will provide 40 federal investigators to the city for 45 days.

The Department of Homeland Security will make 17 agents available.

“Operation Legend will enhance our locally-led, federally-supported response to violence in Indianapolis,” said Mayor Hogsett. “Through increased engagement with the FBI, the DEA, the ATF, and U.S. Marshalls, we will leverage a more robust response to deadly violence and crime in our city. It will take massive efforts, both preventive and punitive, for us to get through this unprecedented time. It will also take continued collaboration between neighborhoods most impacted by violent crime and those investigating that crime. These are all parts of addressing this challenge.”

“IMPD officers spend every day working to build stronger relationships with our residents and make Indianapolis neighborhoods safer,” said IMPD Chief Randal Taylor. “While growing the number of community-based beats and adding officers to our units focused on violent crime, our agency remains fully committed to the task forces that receive additional resources today.”