Pensacola Mayor Grover Robinson is turning to the federal government for help with gun violence in the city, and the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida has agreed to help by forming a joint task force.

"Our goal is to get illegal guns and the criminals who use them off the streets of Pensacola, and this cooperative action will help us achieve that end," Robinson said in a city press release Friday.

Last week, Robinson — along with City Administrator Chris Holley and Pensacola Police Department Chief Tommi Lyter — sent a letter to U.S. Attorney Lawrence Keefe asking for help addressing gun violence.

The letter pointed to a joint task force set up between federal and local law enforcement in Tallahassee as an example of what Mayor Robinson believes is needed in Pensacola.

"We consider Pensacola to be a shining jewel in the crown of our corner of the state," Robinson wrote in his letter. "However, we are experiencing a concerning level of gun violence that has spread beyond the Pensacola Police Department's limited resources and capacity to confront alone. The dedicated men and women of PPD are doing an exceptional job in the face of substantial obstacles, and we believe their efforts would be greatly enhanced by the support of federal personnel and resources."

► Tallahassee task force:Sheriff, U.S. attorney launch unprecedented 'strike force' to combat Tallahassee gun violence

► How successful was Tallahassee's task force?:'Unprecedented' law enforcement effort nets two guns, 13 pounds of drugs and 84 arrests

Keefe responded in a letter Friday by saying, "Very simply, the answer is an emphatic 'Yes' for whatever appropriate assistance we can provide to your important efforts to protect the quality of life of law-abiding residents in your community."

Keefe said he has already began a strategic conversation with several Department of Justice agencies such as the U.S. Marshals Services, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Drug Enforcement Agency and the FBI.

Keefe and the Leon County Sheriff's Office conducted a similar initiative beginning in June that resulted in the arrests of 84 people and the seizures of two guns and 13 pounds of drugs in its first week.

"As you know, in response to an increase in gun violence in Tallahassee and Leon County, a similar coordinated initiative is underway there that has produced several dozen arrests of wanted felons and the seizure of weapons, drugs, cash and other illicitly utilized items," Keefe wrote. "The objective there, as it will be in Pensacola, is to make the streets safer for the public."

Pensacola and the surrounding Escambia County area has experienced an apparent uptick in shootings over recent weeks. Pensacola police and the city have also come under pressure after an officer-involved shooting that left 28-year-old Tymar Crawford dead. The shooting is under investigation by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

Robinson said in his letter that the ongoing threat to public safety is unacceptable.

"We are committed to working together to address these issues in order to preserve Pensacola's sense of community, maintain peace of mind for our residents, and most of all, to protect the people who trust us to serve them," Robinson said.

Robinson said in the city press release that the U.S. Attorney would support the city and provide critical training for officers in the Pensacola Police Department.

Robinson and Lyter, the police chief, will begin meeting with "task force stakeholders" next week to finalize the details of the task force and outline goals and objectives.

"As the new task force begins its operations, updates will be provided as appropriate, but specific operational details that may undermine the safety or integrity of the operation will not be shared," the city press release said.

Jim Little can be reached at jwlittle@pnj.com and 850-208-9827.