Crime & Law
How the FBI Works With Local Law Enforcement to Respond to Violent Crime
Data from the Federal Bureau of Investigation shows violent crime is declining nationwide — including in Chicago.
While local law enforcement has been touting the progress being made, federal agencies like the FBI are also supporting the fight against crime in the city.
Chicago police data shows overall violent crime in the city is down by about 22% in the first half of the year compared to 2024. There have also been 31% fewer homicides and 36% fewer shootings between Jan. 1 and Aug. 31 this year.
Robert Wieczorek, assistant special agent in charge at the FBI’s Chicago Field Office, joined WTTW News’ “Chicago Tonight” to discuss how the agency has been helping bring down violent crime in the city.
On how the FBI responds to crime locally:
“The FBI leads hundreds — if not more — task forces that range from counterterrorism, counterintelligence, cyber(security) and violent crimes,” Wieczorek said. “We enlist the help of our local, state and federal partners. They’re embedded in our teams. We work all day, every day together. There’s discernibly no difference between the agents on my team and the officers. That’s helpful because those officers act as a connective tissue from their departments to our agencies. If we come across a violent criminal that is driving violence in certain neighborhoods, we’re able to learn that information in real time and act on it.”
On the fight against crime in the city:
Wieczorek said the FBI has been making progress in its push to address sexual predators, drug trafficking and fugitives with outstanding warrants.
“In one week nationwide, we arrested 255 predators,” Wieczorek said. “Just in the Chicagoland alone, we saved over 100 children from being victimized. … There was another initiative that we’re doing under the Operation Summer Heat umbrella and it was a fugitive push. We got together with our partners, the Illinois State Police. We were able to identify the 25 baddest of the bad, worst violent criminals who had outstanding warrants. Three of these individuals had homicide warrants. A lot of them had gun warrants and then dangerous narcotics. In one week we arrested 25 violent criminals.”
On illegal guns in Chicago:
Mayor Brandon Johnson recently said that while the Chicago Police Department made progress taking more than 24,000 illegal guns off the street since he took office, there’s still help needed from the federal government.
“We need the federal government to stop the endless flow of guns into our state and into our city,” Johnson said.
Wieczorek said gun trafficking is a big priority for his office and the agency has been ramping up its efforts to crack down on illegal gun modifications like “switches.”
“As the federal government, we’re not only nationwide; we’re across the entire globe,” Wieczorek said. “It is very easy for me to reach out to the Jackson Field Office in Mississippi and say, ‘Hey, can you guys help us with this investigation; can you cover this lead? What do you know about this individual? What should we know about this individual?’ It’s a lot more challenging for a local law enforcement agency to do that because they don’t have that connectivity that we have on a nationwide basis.”
