Attorney General Merrick B. Garland addressed the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas on August 15, 2024, expressing gratitude towards law enforcement officers and emphasizing the importance of collaboration in combating violent crime.
Garland highlighted the Justice Department's strategy since he assumed office three and a half years ago, which focuses on partnerships with state, local, and federal law enforcement agencies. He noted that such collaborations are key to reducing violent crime rates.
“When I became Attorney General about three and a half years ago, I realized that partnerships like those represented around this table are the ones that will help us bring down the violent crime rate,” Garland said. “I learned this when I was an Assistant U.S. Attorney myself in the early 1990s.”
Garland reported a 3.7% decrease in violent crime in Kansas last year, as per data from the Kansas Bureau of Investigation. Nationwide, there has been one of the lowest violent crime rates in 50 years and a significant drop in homicides.
“Just last week, the Major City Chiefs Association reported violent crime was down an additional 6% across 70 major cities over the same six months of [2024], and that included a 17% drop in homicides,” Garland added.
Despite these improvements, Garland acknowledged ongoing challenges: “We know that progress is uneven, and that in many communities, violent crime has not fallen. We also know that there is no level of violent crime that is acceptable.”
The Justice Department continues efforts to arrest violent felons, trace guns used in crimes, and disrupt drug trafficking operations. Recent initiatives include awarding $846,000 to Kansas under the Sexual Assault Services Formula Program to support rape crisis centers and other victim assistance programs.
Additionally, Garland mentioned several successful prosecutions by this U.S. Attorney’s Office:
- Eight defendants charged with distributing methamphetamine and cocaine.
- A 25-year sentence for fentanyl trafficking resulting in overdose death.
- A 10-year sentence for a former physician operating a pill mill.
- Fifteen-year sentences for two individuals who ambushed federal law enforcement officers.
“The Justice Department has made clear that it does not matter if you are a trafficker in a drug cartel or a medical professional — if you profit from the unlawful distribution of controlled substances, you will be held accountable,” stated Garland.
In closing remarks, Garland praised U.S. Attorney Brubacher and her team: “I am very proud of the work of U.S. Attorney Brubacher and all men and women of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for what they do every day.”
He also expressed appreciation for their partnerships with various agencies: “These are people whose agents put their lives on the line every single day to protect all of us.”