Earlier this year, the city expanded the violent offenders task force through a partnership with the U.S. Marshals Service.

In February, the City Commissioner approved a memorandum of understanding with the Marshals to assign a full-time federal officer to the task force.

GFPD adding resources for violent crimes, drugs

Chief Dave Bowen of the Great Falls Police Department told The Electric in February that he had secured two full-time U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration agents and one from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to join the Russell County Drug Task Force.

Bowen said in February that there hadn’t been a DEA presence in Great Falls for 25 years.

Since the changes in February, the task force has cleared 311 cases and seized eight handguns, five long guns, ammunition, 5056.75 grams of methamphetamine, 95.6 grams of marijuana, eight Oxycodone pills, 398 grams of heroin, assorted drug paraphernalia, $36,819 in criminal proceeds, and five vehicles, according to a GFPD release on Thursday.

Due to their efforts, 311 criminals have been arrested, according to the release.