Violent Crime Enforcement Teams (VCET) investigate and prosecute narcotics, gangs and associated violent crimes.

The goal is to increase identification and arrest of serious law violators and enhance law enforcement expertise available statewide for investigations crossing jurisdictions. There are currently 21 funded task forces spanning counties. The task forces are staffed by over 200 investigators from over 120 agencies.

Violent Crime Coordinating Council 

The Violent Crime Coordinating Council (VCCC) provides guidance on investigating and prosecuting gang and drug crime. They also provide direction and oversight to the task forces and enforcement teams throughout the state.

The VCCC works closely with the commissioner of the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and is charged with additional responsibilities governing the operation of multijurisdictional VCETs.  

Program activities and outcomes

 Each VCET provides statistical and narrative reports on a quarterly basis.  This information assists DPS in allocating funds and analyzing drug and violent crime trends throughout the state.  

VCET activities and data 

Activity​	2020	2021	2022
​Total number of drug arrests	​3,077	1,709	2,289
Percentage of 1st Degree Drug  Cases	12%	32%	28%
Total number of non-drug arrests​	1,121	800	1,030
Percentage of violent crimes (Part 1)​	​19%	19%	13%
​​Number of arrests involving cocaine	197​	202	207
Number of arrests involving heroin ​	​293	268	155
​Number of arrests involving methamphetamine	1,435	1,421	1,426
​Number of arrests involving prescription drugs	​247	234	260
Number of arrests involving synthetic narcotics	75	111	106
​Number of children removed during arrest	​315	264	303
​Number of guns seized	880	835	1,086
​Amount of cocaine seized (grams)	8,982	35,797	77,105
Amount of heroin seized (grams)	7,348	7,137	2,674
​Amount of meth seized (grams)	​522,762	556,863	518,275
Amount of prescription drugs seized (dosage units)	30,064	58,195	14,846
Amount of Synthetic Narcotics seized (grams)	2,458	20,583	7,014
Amount of Fentanyl Pills seized (dosage units)	*	*	211,172
Amount of Fentanyl Powder seized (grams)	*	*	16,603
​Number of cases coordinated with other agencies	​1,404	1,330	1,073
​Number of community presentations given	156	207	394
​Number of people in attendance at community meetings	4,294	8,244	16,470
Number of Community Outreach Activities	499	302	391

*Started collecting fentanyl data in 2022