Attorney General Merrick B. Garland addressed the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Oregon, expressing gratitude to federal, state, and local law enforcement partners. "All of you are the partners that make everything work," he stated, acknowledging their daily risks to ensure public safety.
Garland highlighted the Justice Department's efforts over the past three and a half years to combat violent crime, which surged during the pandemic. The strategy focused on partnerships with various law enforcement agencies and included substantial funding to hire more officers and support violence prevention initiatives.
Recent data indicates progress in Portland, with an 8% drop in violent crime from 2022 to 2023 and an additional 4% decline in early 2024 compared to the previous year. However, Garland emphasized that "there is no acceptable level of violent crime."
The Justice Department has worked closely with local agencies on significant cases. In May, a gang leader received a 14-year sentence for trafficking drugs into Portland. In August, another individual was sentenced for selling deadly Oxycodone pills leading to a fatality. September saw convictions related to distributing fentanyl-laced pills resulting in a teenager's death.
In October, collaboration among multiple agencies led to a 57-month sentence for a money launderer involved in drug trafficking across the Pacific Northwest and California. Additionally, that month brought about the conviction of a man who kidnapped and assaulted two women.
More recently, authorities secured a five-year sentence for illegal firearm possession and manufacturing charges involving over 100 semi-automatic weapons.
Garland also noted that over $64 million in grants have been awarded this year by the Justice Department to aid Oregon law enforcement agencies in hiring officers and combating crime.
He praised Natalie Wight and her team at the U.S. Attorney’s Office for their dedication: "I am extremely proud of the public servants who make up this office." Garland concluded by recognizing the sacrifices made by law enforcement personnel across Oregon.