Louisville Police Chief Steve Conrad will create a new 31-member team — called the VIPER Unit — meant to reduce violent crime by focusing on areas were violent crime has been happening, arresting the worst offenders and addressing gang activity, reports the Louisville Courier-Journal. Conrad said a new Crime Information Center will also bear a significant role in reducing crime. The center will consist of Louisville Metro Police's crime analysts and two detectives trained in crime analysis. Each of the department's eight patrol divisions will have a liaison officer to the center.
Currently, intelligence data gets to the patrol divisions through a weekly meeting and communication among detectives and officers. The intent of the changes is to allow officers to know which people are committing violent crimes and to arrest them before more violence can happen, Conrad said. “The overall goal here is a safer city,” Conrad said, noting that more changes are expected in the future. By nabbing those repeat violent offenders, Louisville Metro Police could have a “significant impact on violent crime,” Conrad said.