The FBI is increasing the number of agents that will be used to provide investigative support to Prince George's County homicide cases, according to a recent letter from FBI Baltimore's special agent in charge.

The letter from William Chase to U.S. Rep. Albert Wynn, D-Md., dated April 20, also outlines a number of other ways the FBI will help to “hopefully decrease the levels of violence” in the county.

Chase said the FBI will provide Prince George's with a liaison in its lab to discuss forensic support in homicide cases and has “already begun providing analytical resources to assist in investigations, as well as to prepare threat assessments and conduct crime trend analysis in Prince George's County.”

Last month, Wynn sent a letter to Chase asking for assistance in “closing numerous open murder cases” in the county.

This story continues below
Advertisement

“I am very pleased,” Wynn said of the response. “I think that, first of all, open lines of communication between the FBI Baltimore and our local police chief [Melvin High]

have been established.” Chase and High met earlier this month.

Chase said the increased complement, to be located at the Calverton Resident Agency, will also “improve staffing on our Safe Streets Task Force, which is charged with targeting violent crime.” According to Chase's letter, Prince George's police have “committed to provide a small number of personnel to work with the SSTF.”

In addition, Chase said FBI Baltimore will work with the FBI Washington Field Office “to address the cross border nature of violent crime in Prince George's County.”

“The larger problem is finding out how we can change the culture of violence,” Wynn said. “But we appreciate the FBI's help.”

County police said they have handled 51 homicides this year, through Friday, compared with 34 last year.

Earlier this month, Prince George's Police spokeswoman Sharon Taylor said Chase and High discussed how the FBI might assist with lab work and bring serial criminals into the federal system, where sentencing guidelines are tougher.

“We continue to communicate orally and in writing with the FBI and we've in fact operationalized certain aspects of what we plan to do together,” High said in a statement.

dfowler@dcexaminer.com