U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida Hosts Community Resilience Forum to Prevent and Combat Crime

This afternoon, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida hosted a community resilience forum that enabled members of law enforcement, concerned citizens and dozens of local leaders to discuss the immeasurable importance of citizen and law enforcement collaboration, in order to combat crime. 

Wifredo A. Ferrer, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Miami-Dade County State Attorney, Ari Sharpira, Assistant Special Agent in Charge, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), Miami Field Division, Juan Perez, Acting Director, Miami-Dade Police Department (MDPD), Rodolfo Llanes, Chief, City of Miami Police Department, and Kareem Shora, Senior Policy Advisor and Chief of Community Engagement, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, made the announcement.

Law enforcement strives to combat internal and external national security threats, violent crime, firearms trafficking, gangs, illegal firearms purchases, gun violence, hate crimes, and acts of intimidation.  It is the duty of all law enforcement personnel to protect the community from danger.  Community policing is an avenue by which law enforcement can work toward crime prevention and detection. However, law enforcement’s ability to thwart, identify and prosecute these pervasive crimes requires community collaboration.  It is imperative that the community report criminal activity to law enforcement, take a stance against violence and illegal gun possession, and protect themselves from potential harm by strengthening the security of their person, residence and places of worship.  A community’s resilience depends on the fused forces of our federal, state and local law enforcement partners and the voices of our citizens. 

In order to continue this important dialogue and allow for substantive problem solving sessions, the U.S. Attorney’s Office will host future community resilience forums. 

Mr. Ferrer commends the collective efforts of the State Attorney’s Office, FBI, ATF, MDPD, City of Miami Police Department, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, concerned citizens, and local leaders to combat criminal conduct and support the resilience of our communities.   To learn more about the partnership to combat violence and support community initiatives, please contact (305) 961-9134 or visit usafls.vrp@usdoj.gov.