U.S. Cities Try 'Surge' Tactic To Fight Crime

05:02

July 24, 2012

Attorney General Eric Holder addresses the media at Philadelphia City Hall on Monday after Holder announced more than $111 million in funding for more than 800 law enforcement positions across the country, including 44 in cities in Pennsylvania, through the U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services. (AP)

Remember the "surge?" That was the tactic used by the U.S. military in both Iraq and Afghanistan — increasing troop levels as part of a strategy to seize the initiative in those wars.

A version is now being tried here to help cities fight crime. The basic idea is to move federal agents into a troubled city for a limited period and focus on violent criminals who would be subject to federal prosecution.

U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder was in Philadelphia this week with the city's mayor, Michael Nutter, to announce that the federal government had assigned more than 50 agents, intelligence analysts, and investigators to the city for a four month period.

Guest:

Evan Perez, Wall Street Journal

This segment aired on July 24, 2012.