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U.S. Attorney Defends Operation LeGend Results

By Steve Kraske,

Published September 3, 2020 at 5:44 PM CDT

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U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr is flanked by the parents of LeGend Taliferro, Raphael, left, and Charron, as he addresses the media Wednesday at the Charles Evans Whittaker Courthouse. Barr was in Kansas City to update the progress of Operation LeGend. — U.S. Attorney General William P. Barr is flanked by the parents of LeGend Taliferro. On July 8, 2020, the United States Department of Justice announced the Operation LeGend initiative to bring federal law enforcement agents to Kansas City.

In response to a recent editorial in The Kansas City Star U.S. Attorney disputes claims that Operation LeGend's success has been overstated.

Operation LeGend has made 355 total arrests with 33 connected to homicide cases and 122 firearms confiscated since July. The Kansas City Police Department has been publishing violent crimes statistics since the operation started noted U.S. Attorney Tim Garrison, adding, "That transparency should give the public confidence that what we're reporting is true."

Tim Garrison, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri

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Steve Kraske

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.

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Luke X. Martin

As culture editor, I oversee KCUR’s coverage of race, culture, the arts, food and sports. I work with reporters to make sure our stories reflect the fullest view of the place we call home, so listeners and readers feel primed to explore the places, projects and people who make up a vibrant Kansas City. Email me at luke@kcur.org.

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Chris Young

Chris Young is an Assistant Producer for KCUR’s Up To Date. Contact him at chrisy@kcur.org.

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