ST PAUL, Minn. — Law enforcement agencies are rethinking their approach to crime, both across the country and here in our state, by launching new strategies and initiatives to lower the numbers — and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) is one of them.
The BCA launched its Violent Crime Reduction Unit (VCRU) in early 2024, a team made up of state agents, criminal intelligence analysts and forensic scientists whose mission was to support local agencies seeing big spikes in violent crime. Many of those agencies lack the resources, infrastructure or experience to deal with it alone. The strategy was to use a three-pronged approach: Arrest repeat violent offenders, confiscate guns and pull drugs off the street.
After launching a similar initiative on a smaller scale in 2022, the BCA received funding from the legislature to go all-in. The VCRU, when it reaches full strength, will include 14 BCA agents; a firearms detection K-9; two criminal intelligence analysts; two crime victim/witness coordinators; and 11 task force officers from a dozen local partner agencies. The team will work out of a new, centralized location that will allow the VCRU to respond quickly to support local partners in the Twin Cities Metro and greater Minnesota.
BCA officials say since launching in January, the VCRU has already made a significant impact, arresting 112 wanted criminals and confiscating:
- 66 firearms
- 2,650 fentanyl pills
- 9.2 pounds of methamphetamine
“We know that crime does not respect jurisdictional boundaries. That’s why it’s so important we work with our partners in this holistic approach to reducing violent crime," explained BCA Superintendent Drew Evans. "We can follow the criminals, guns and drugs wherever they go and pull them off the street before they can be used in a crime or hurt someone.”
Agencies that will assign officers and deputies to the VCRU include the Ramsey and Anoka County Sheriff’s Offices, and Fridley, St. Louis Park, Columbia Heights, Crystal, Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maplewood, North St. Paul, Roseville and Robbinsdale Police Departments.
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