![U.S. Attorney General William Barr told Cleveland law enforcement officials Thursday that there may be money coming for drug and violent crime operations. [Matthew Richmond / ideastream]](https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/6899a0a/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3000x1687+0+0/resize/840x472!/format/webp/quality/90/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Flegacy%2Fuploads%2F2019%2F11%2F21%2Fbarr_web2.jpg)
The federal government is considering spending more on crime fighting task forces in Northeast Ohio, according to U.S. Attorney General William Barr.
Under Jeff Sessions, President Donald Trump鈥檚 first attorney general, the Department of Justice began . It has continued under Barr, with programs like and the newly unveiled .
鈥淐rime is half the level it was back in 1992,鈥� Barr told local law enforcement officials at a roundtable at Cleveland Division of Police鈥檚 Third District Station. 鈥淎nd I think it鈥檚 largely because of the cooperation of the federal government with our state and local colleagues.鈥�
During Thursday鈥檚 meeting, the attorney general wouldn鈥檛 say for sure if more funding is coming to Cleveland. But he did say past successful violent crime task forces in the region make it more likely Northeast Ohio will receive funding.
After Barr鈥檚 remarks, Cmdr. Gary Gingell said one potential use for federal funding would be to expand , which targets small groups of violent offenders in Cleveland.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a dangerous job and they do it well,鈥� Gingell said. 鈥淲e want to grow that into another squad.鈥�
Barr also held a short, closed-door meeting with law enforcement before leaving the Third District station.
