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Local ATC steps in to fight homicide crime

A large blue van with the letter NIBIN, or National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, rolled out in front of city hall today as Mayor Catherine Pugh and local representatives of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms announced the joint efforts partnership.

The mobile unit will be used throughout the city to provide homicide crime scene analysis within four hours of an incident. The vehicle is equipped with computers to match guns with previous homicide offenders.

"The challenge is connecting those violent repeated offenders to evidence," said Police Commissioner Kevin Davis. "This vehicle behind us today will expedite that process."

But, Davis said, there were no hard numbers on how many of the current violence offenders have had repeated incidents.

The new vehicle comes to the city as Pugh is trying reach out to federal partners to assist in combating gun violence. Last week Pugh announced talks with the local FBI about adding more agents and equipment to the police.

"I really do need federal help," said Pugh. "This issue is bigger than all of us."

The vehicle will be in stationed at one district police department for a month then move to another city.  One representative from ATC said that it will come back to the city later.