LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A new task force has been set up in Louisville as carjacking rises. Louisville Metro Police have responded to 30 carjacking’s in Jefferson County in July compared to just four in July of 2019.
This force was created to take more cases federal where penalties range up to more than a decade in a federal penitentiary and parole does not exist.
U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman adds the problem directly relates to the gun violence in our city. Russell said Louisville had 95 homicides in mid-August which is more than the entire year of 2019 and 350 shootings in Jefferson County.
The FBI Louisville Field Office and law enforcement partners are offering incentives in the form of federal overtime, vehicles, and training for Jefferson County law enforcement agencies who are participating in the task force.
Their concern is for the safety of people in Louisville including those protesting racial injustice.
"We are seeing these increases in violent crime, homicide, shooting, carjackings... that some are exploiting lawful protesters... some are exploiting these first amendment activities for their own criminal purposes," LMPD Interim Chief Rob Schroeder said.
Adding the only way to fight this current problem is by community involvement.
"Helping to foster safe communities continues to be a primary focus of FBI Louisville,” said FBI Louisville Division SAC Robert Brown. “As preventing violent crime is a bedrock of the FBI, we look forward to working with and leading a new violent crime task force comprised of FBI, ATF, LMPD, KSP, HSI, and JCSO."