More than 60 high-ranking law officials attended a meeting Wednesday in Burien hosted by Kent Police Chief Ken Thomas to address local and regional gang violence.
Thomas called the meeting in response to a shooting Saturday during a car show at a Kent strip mall parking lot that left 12 people injured, according to a Kent Police media release. Kent Police are looking for the shooting suspects. No arrests have been made.
“The recent violence in our region is unacceptable and will not be tolerated,” Thomas said in the release. “Law enforcement is taking the initiative to get out in front of the gang problem by addressing the most violent offenders before they commit additional violent acts.”
Local and federal law enforcement executives, representatives from King and Pierce County prosecutors offices and other partners met at the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Center in Burien. The officials met to discuss and identify strategies that could enhance their efforts to curtail the violence associated to the most violent street gangs.
As a result of this meeting, two initiatives have been identified for immediate implementation.
The first step includes a commitment to effectively collect, analyze, and share criminal intelligence about violent street gangs to all law enforcement agencies throughout the area.
The group also will assemble a contingent of investigators to work collaboratively to target the most violent gangs and gang members in the area for aggressive enforcement action.
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