US Marshals Sexual and Viloent Crime Near End

Sex offender and violent crime task force of the United Marshal's service may be comming to an end, if funding is not quickly found.

According to Deputy DUSM Dewaine Allen, Western District of Arkansas, Fayetteville Division , the task force has tracked 1000 fugitives since the unit was created in November of 2007. Most of the fugitives are running from the law for violent crimes and sex offenses.

The special task force started in November of 20007 with a grant of $500,000. The money was written and adminstered by the Benton County Sheriff's off.

According to Deputy Allen, “The grant monies have been used to purchase Task Force Officer vehicles, emergency lighting, radios and other equipment for officers.”

The grant was also used to lease a private office space in Springdale until operations could be relocated to the U. S. Marshals Service office in Fayetteville.

“Relocating saved us considerable funding, but resources are at an end, and we need additional funding to operate,” said Deputy Allen.

Computers, phones, and overtime were also paid from the grant. “Unless additional resources are obtained, the task force will lose its most valuable resource…our administrative assistant, who is paid by the Benton County Sheriff’s Office via the grant,” said Deputy Allen.

Every year, the U.S. Marshals and its associated task forces throughout the country arrest more fugitives than all federal law enforcement agencies combined. Last year, this number was more than 73,000 state and local fugitives and more than 36,000 federal fugitives. Additional information about the U.S. Marshals can be found at http://www.usmarshals.gov.

The Northwest Arkansas Sex Offender and Violent Crime Task Force is comprised of the U. S. Marshals Service, Benton, Washington, Madison, and Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Fayetteville, Springdale, Rogers, Siloam Springs, and the Bentonville Police Departments. The Arkansas Department of Community Corrections is also a valued member. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office currently manages the grant that funds the task force.