SHOWCASE: VIOLENT CRIME UNIT
In September 2021, the Arlington Police Department combined its Robbery and Gun Crimes units to form a single Violent Crimes Unit( VCU), streamlining and enhancing the department’ s resources to combat violent crime. The team is responsible for investigating non-fatal shootings, aggravated assaults, robberies, and other types of gun-related crimes. The unit is made up of 2 Sergeants, 8 Detectives, 2 ATF Task Force Officers, 1 FBI Task Force Officer, 1 Crime Analyst, and 1 Investigative Assistant.
Several members of the unit are deputized as federal law enforcement agents and are part of regional task forces that promote cooperation between local, state, and federal agencies. The Task Force Officers review APD cases to see if they meet the criteria for federal referral and prosecution.
In 2021, 41 cases the unit investigated were adopted federally. Federal charges often carry stronger sentences and require those convicted on them to serve out the full duration of their sentence, keeping violent offenders off Arlington’ s streets. One example – APD officers investigated an aggravated robbery case in which the suspect shot a man multiple times after demanding money from him. The victim survived the attack and the suspect was identified and arrested. Detectives learned the suspect had five previous felony convictions, which meant he was legally prohibited from possessing a firearm. With the help of VCU personnel, the case was adopted federally and the suspect was found guilty of Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm. He was sentenced in September 2021 to 27 years in federal prison.
34 | 2021 Annual Report