washington u.s. justice department launch 12-city partnership combat spike violent crime part president donald trump vow support law enforcement attorney general jeff sessions say tuesday program feature three-year initiative help coordinate crime-fighting efforts among federal state local tribal law enforcement prosecutors sessions say unveil new national public safety partnership trump republican make tough-on-crime rhetoric focus 2016 campaign new program stem executive order sign february mandate justice department provide support local law enforcement duty make sure country abandon progress make crime past decades sessions say national meet law enforcement officials remark release justice department sessions disclose new fund initiative focus gun crime drug traffic gang violence federal government provide help areas include train crime analysis gun violence community engagement investigations spike violent crime 2015 continue first half last year big cities see average increase murder almost 22 percent compare period year sessions say dozen cities choose program birmingham alabama indianapolis memphis tennessee toledo ohio baton rouge louisiana buffalo new york cincinnati houston jackson tennessee kansas city missouri lansing michigan springfield illinois sessions say communities could announce partnership year 12 cities pick level violence well national average ready receive train aid justice department spokesman devin malley say federal prosecutors law enforcement officials also help choose say chicago nine cities pilot program call violence reduction network also take part initiative trump vow january bring federal intervention bear quell gun violence chicago u.s. attorney general unveil 12-city partnership fight crime