Crime intelligence training aims to address gun violence in Kentucky

OWENSBORO, Ky. (WEHT) — Law enforcement agents understand that gun violence continues to be an issue across the country which is why the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is partnering with local agencies across the state of Kentucky to help where they can, including in Owensboro.

“Gun violence is a real thing,” OPD Chief Art Ealum said. “If you want to attack and address gun violence, our people need to be skilled at it. Criminals are not slow to develop their skill set. So we just have to try to keep up with them or try to outpace them whenever we can.”

Federal, state and local agencies are coming together to address the threat of gun violence. Chief Ealum says even though trends have decreased in the city since 2020, it’s still imperative to stay on top of training. In the state, ATF Special Agent-in-Charge John Nokes says it’s all too easy for violent criminals to get their hands on a firearm.

“We’ve got a lot of active investigation right now where firearms are purchased in Kentucky and have ended up in cartel hands in South America and that’s a major problem for us,” Nokes said.

This is where the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIT) comes in. It’s a program operated by ATF that helps with crime gun tracing that officers got to get a first-hand look at during the training.

“If there’s a crime that happens in Owensboro, that shell casing can be entered into the program and go down to out correlation center,” Nokes said. “And within a day, that investigator’s going to get information back about that firearm and may say, ‘Hey, that same firearm was used in Central City last month’ or in Saint Louis or Los Angeles.”

ATF isn’t the only agency lending a hand in the training. The United States Attorney’s Office is playing a major role in supporting the statewide training — committing to prosecuting those that engage in violent crime to the fullest extent.

“We’re joined in resources and we’re coming for you,” United States Attorney Kyle Bumgarner said. “You are not going to scare our communities. You’re not going to run people out of communities. People need to feel safe. They need to feel safe going to school, running their businesses, going to churches, or places of faith. When we join forced between federal, state, and local agents, we’re going to make sure that happens.”

ATF agents say they will continue to spend the rest of the year bringing these trainings to other local agencies including in Hopkinsville and Lexington.