Omaha, Kansas City Police Share Strategies to Target Gang Violence

Billy Wright, a special agent in charge for the ATF in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri, said recent operations code named “Wipe It Down’’ and “Purple Haze’’ are examples of Omaha’s successes. The operations resulted in arrests on suspicion of firearms trafficking, illegal possession of firearms and drug trafficking.

Dozens of gang members and associates are facing significant prison time after the joint investigation by Omaha police, the ATF and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Wright said.

Omaha’s efforts to curb gang violence are catching the attention of other police departments, including officers in Kansas City, Mo., reports the World-Herald .

Omaha is combining intelligence-gathering and crime lab analysis to reduce the amount of police saturation needed in troubled areas. Officers study gangs and their social structures to understand who the violent offenders are and how they behave.