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Anoka County Attorney

Training Update

 

May 2000

 

 

 

APROJECT SAFETY ON@

Earlier this year, the United States Attorney for the District of Minnesota along with the County Attorneys for Anoka, Dakota, Ramsey, Hennepin, and Washington Counties, announced the beginning of APROJECT SAFETY ON.@ ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS IN THESE JURISDICTIONS SHOULD BE AWARE OF APROJECT SAFETY ON.@ Also, the U.S. Attorney=s Office is considering expanding the Project to other jurisdictions within Minnesota. As always, the U.S. Attorney=s Office will consider referrals for federal firearms violations from any county attorney.

APROJECT SAFETY ON@ B WHAT IS IT?

AProject Safety On@ is a joint prosecution effort by the above listed jurisdictions to address concerns of violent crime resulting from the illegal use of firearms by criminals.

APROJECT SAFETY ON@ B GOALS:

With the primary goal of reducing violence that results from the illegal use of firearms by criminals, the Project aims to assure that no one in the five county area who illegally possesses a firearm will Aslip through the cracks.@ The Project also aims to ensure that anyone who illegally possesses a gun will face serious jail/prison time. Other goals of the Project include cooperation between jurisdictions, public education, and outreach.

APROJECT SAFETY ON@ B THE PROCESS:

Every criminal case involving a gun will be jointly examined to determine which jurisdiction can most effectively prosecute the case and achieve the best overall enforcement of state and federal firearms laws.

 

APROJECT SAFETY ON@ B GUIDELINES FOR

LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS:

  1. All law enforcement officers, specifically detectives/investigators and other persons submitting cases to county attorney offices for charging should be aware of this program.
  2. All law enforcement officers in the participating jurisdictions should familiarize themselves with the federal firearms laws. (See below, AQUICK REFERENCE TO FEDERAL FIREARMS LAWS.@) Some of the common federal firearms violations include: Possession of a Firearm by a Prohibited Person; Use or Possession of a Firearm in Relation to or in Furtherance of a Drug Felony or a Federal Crime of Violence; and Possession of Stolen Firearm. The AQUICK REFERENCE TO FEDERAL FIREARMS LAWS@ is an excellent source to familiarize yourselves with the relevant federal laws and the elements to those offenses. Further, the AQuick Reference@ will be helpful in enabling you to provide relevant information pertaining to those elements in your police reports.
  3. Finally, remember that the decision to consider prosecution under AProject Safety On@ is initially made by the county attorney. However, law enforcement officers may want to follow up with the prosecutors handling their cases to see if a potentially applicable case was considered for AProject Safety On.@

 

EXAMPLE CASE OF APROJECT SAFETY ON@

Recently in Anoka County, an individual was arrested and charged with Aggravated Robbery and three counts of Assault in the Second Degree. The individual pointed his firearm at a woman and stole her car. The individual then fired and/or brandished his weapon at three innocent bystanders. Because of Project Safety On, this case was jointly examined by both the Anoka County Attorney=s Office and the United States Attorney=s Office and the decision was jointly made that the United States Attorney=s Office could most effectively prosecute the case to achieve the best overall enforcement of the federal firearms laws.

 

 

Sean Gibbs, Assistant Anoka County Attorney

 

The Anoka County Attorney Training Updates are published and distributed monthly as a public service to more than 350 Minnesota law enforcement agencies and individuals. Any questions, comments or suggestions on training topics should be directed to Sean C. Gibbs, Assistant Anoka County Attorney at 612-323-5632 or e-mail SCGibbs@Co.Anoka.MN.US or Nancy Jones Norman, Assistant Anoka County Attorney at 612-323-5626 or e-mail at NJNorman@Co.Anoka.MN.US, Government Center, 2100 Third Avenue, Anoka, MN 55303-2265.

 

 

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