Yakima Police Chief Dominic Rizzi says a new relationship with federal agencies is having an impact on local gang crime.

Rizzi says the threat of doing federal time is weighing on the minds of local criminals involved in gang activity. And the city now has two full-time gang units.

We’ve also increased our working capacity with the federal agencies and we are taking a lot of cases federal.

Rizzi says not only is the department putting pressure on local gang but the new relationship with federal agencies is placing some gang members behind into federal jails on federal charges.

The department is working closely with the ATF, DEA, Homeland Security and even the U.S. Postal service. Rizzi says the postal inspector has agreed to work with Yakima to try and catch gang members sending drugs or guns through the mail.

Rizzi says he believes the fact that gang members can now do federal time is having an impact on local crime.

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