25 Federal Agents Being Permanently Moved To Cleveland

CLEVELAND — More than 25 federal agents will be permanently moved to Cleveland as part of Operation LeGend, U.S. Attorney Justin Herdman announced Wednesday.

Herdman said the agents would be participating in long-term criminal investigations in an attempt to reduce shootings and other violence in Cleveland. A temporary surge in federal agents will come to Northeast Ohio until agents can be permanently reassigned to the area.

"This is not an introduction of federal riot police," Herdman said, referencing the unmarked federal agents who are active in Portland.

The additional federal agents in Cleveland are a continuation of a previous federal initiative in Northeast Ohio called Operation Relentless Pursuit. That operation ended at the end of March due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Homicides are up more than 10 percent in Cleveland this year and the surge of federal agents is designed to halt further killings.

Herdman and Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson indicated Operation Legend would serve as successor to the Relentless Pursuit program.

"These operations will lead to taking violent criminals and guns off the streets," Herdman said.