The FBI is beefing up its presence throughout the St. Louis area.
U.S. Sen. Eric Schmitt of Missouri and FBI Director Kash Patel announced on Wednesday “the largest per capita infusions of full-time agents and intelligence personnel in the nation.”
While the news release didn’t specify how many new agents or how much more money would be flowing to the area, both Schmitt and Patel said in statements that the extra staffing would help fight violent crime.
“This permanent investment in St. Louis by the FBI will be coupled with increased multilateral joint agency operations, increasing overall crime fighting capacity and building upon the important work being done on the state level to restore public safety,” said Schmitt, a Republican.
Patel added that “investment in St. Louis is about action, not politics, making sure our agents are shoulder to shoulder with local law enforcement to take violent criminals off the streets.”
The announcement comes as Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey is slated to leave his post to become co-deputy FBI director alongside Dan Bongino.
