Yakima Police Using Federal Authorities to Battle Crime

Yakima Police Chief Dominic Rizzi says he is confident a new relationship with federal officials will help in Yakima's fight against gangs and gang crime.

Rizzi met with officials from the FBI, DEA and ATF last week to get them on board to helping prosecute some of Yakima's most dangerous criminals.

"They can charge things that normally we couldn't or they can get harsher sentences that we can't get. their rules are a little bit different. It's just another tool for us."

Rizzi says charging them with federal crimes could result in longer prison terms and that is the bottom line.

Yakima is just looking for ways to keep more repeat criminals and more gang members behind bars longer then they can using state laws.