LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Criminals don't pay attention to state and county lines, and now prosecutors from three Kentuckiana counties are teaming up to make sure justice is served no matter where the crime is committed.

Three prosecutors -- representing counties on both sides of the Ohio River -- began outlining a strategy Tuesday to benefit taxpayers and the communities they serve. They're determined to address the rising tide of cross-border crime, and their message is clear: removing the boundaries of state lines, county lines, and even the Ohio River from the equation could make a real difference.

"We are a border region," said Floyd County Prosecutor Chris Lane, as he explained the interconnected nature of crime. "Our taxpayer dollars don't stop at the river. If we don't stop crime in Kentucky, it floods Indiana. If we don't stop crime in Indiana, it floods Kentucky."

That's the hard reality of a growing problem that has been ignored for far too long.

Lane's comments came months after the tragic shooting at the New Albany Harvest Homecoming Festival in October, which thrust the issue of cross-state crime into the spotlight. Police reports confirmed that the shooting, which resulted from an ongoing dispute between two groups -- had serious implications.

What made the case even more disturbing was the fact that all five of the suspects connected to the crime were from Kentucky. The shooting, along with other recent violent events, illustrated the dangers of a fragmented approach to law enforcement along the Ohio River.

"The violence for me was what propelled it," Lane said. "You're just seeing more and more violence, and that's unacceptable. Prosecutor [Gerina] Weathers has done a great job identifying this issue, and we're seeing it in our own county as well."

The three prosecutors -- Lane, Jeremy Mull from Clark County, and Gerina Whethers, the Commonwealth's Attorney for Jefferson County -- said they were already seeing the same patterns emerge in their respective jurisdictions. They're no strangers to the criminals crossing state lines, and are now ready to take coordinated action.

Their solution? An agreement to share information and work together across the river.

"We’re seeing more and more of the same people committing crimes on both sides of the border," said Mull. "With this agreement, we’ll have access to data from both Kentucky and Indiana, which will allow us to identify people with outstanding charges and track them more efficiently."

The collaboration isn't just about getting criminals off the streets. It is about providing a more efficient and effective means of prosecution. Lane explained that if someone with charges in Indiana is arrested in Kentucky, prosecutors from each state could decide where they should be held, or whether extradition was necessary.

"That’s a common situation for me -- multiple cases a month," Lane added.

What makes this agreement truly innovative is its potential impact on the taxpayers of both states. With information flowing freely between offices, law enforcement could focus resources on the most pressing cases, creating a ripple effect that would enhance public safety across the entire region.

"If we create safety in my community, it makes Clark County safer, it makes Louisville safer, and vice versa," Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said. "But if one community goes unchecked, it impacts every community within the metro area. All of us -- every taxpayer in these three counties -- will feel it."

The partnership among these prosecutors represents a crucial step in fighting crime across the Ohio River. Information is already being shared, it's already making a difference. The future of the agreement promises greater cooperation, reduced violence, and, most importantly, a stronger, safer region where taxpayers on both sides of the river benefit.

As they continue to work together, one thing is clear: the boundaries between counties, states, and rivers are no longer obstacles to justice. They're just lines on a map, and these prosecutors are ready to cross them to ensure safety and security for all.

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