FBI reports an increase in reported hate crimes year over year 'It runs the gambit from violence to threats to damage to property,' Special Agent Eugene Kowel says Share Updated: 6:25 PM CDT Jul 8, 2021 'It runs the gambit from violence to threats to damage to property,' Special Agent Eugene Kowel says Share Updated: 6:25 PM CDT Jul 8, 2021 Hide Transcript Show Transcript KETV NEWSWATCH 7’S WAVERLE MONROE IS LIVE WITH THE EFFORT TO BE PROACTIVE AND PREVTEN FUTURE HATE CRIMES. >> ONE OF THOSE EFFORTS INCLUDE A MULTI-CULTURAL ADVISORY COMPRISED OF DIFFERENT GROS.UP FBI SPECIAL AGENT EUGENE KOWEL SAYS THE ADVISORY WAS FORMED THIS YEAR AND IT HELPS DETECTIVES TARGET HATE CRIMES AND THE OFFENDERS IN OUR AREA. OMAHA’S FBI AGENCY IS ENCOURAGING YOU TO REPORT HATE CRIMES. >> HATE CRIMES ARE NOT JUST AN ATTACK ON A VICTIM. REALLY, THE POINT OF A HATE CRIME IS TO INTIMIDATE AND THREAT AN ENTIRE COMMUNI.TY >> SPECIAL AGENT EUGENE KOWEL SAYS THIS IS PART AOF NATIONWIDE INITIATIVE. BUT FOR OUR AREA, KOWEL SAYS THE LATEST NUMBERS SHOWS A 21% INCREASE YEAR OVER YR.EA >> IT RUNS THE GAMBIT FROM VIOLENCE TO THREATS TO DAMAGE TO PROPERTY. >> BACK IN APRIL, TEMPLE ISRAEL OFFICIALS SAW NAZI RECRUITMENT STICKERS PLACED NEARHE T BUILDING. THE SUSPECT WAS CITED FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE AND TEHA INTIMIDATION. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF TRI-FAITH INITIATIVE WENDY GOLDBERG SAYS THE HATE CRIMES SHE’S SEEING ARE MORE INDIRECT. >> THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE THE INDICATORS OF THE KINDS OF CULTURE AND BEHAVIOR THAT CREATE LARGER INCIDENTS OF VIOLENCE >> KOWEL SAYS THEY’RE INVESTIGATING HATE CRIMES THAT ALREADY OCCURRED BUTLS A LOOKING TO PREVENT THEM BY MONITORING LARGE GATHERINGS FROM CWS TO HEARTLAND PRIDE, NIKK.IE -- HEARTLAND PRIDE. NIKKI TRAHAN WITH HEARTLAND PRIDE SAYS MORE THAN ANYTHING SHE’S SEEN SUPPORT. >> WE STILL HAVE A LONG WAYSO T GO BUT TO HAVE ALL OF THESE ORGANIZATIONS EMBRACING US AND LETTING US KNOW THAT WE ARE HEARD. IT IS OUTSTANDING. >> FORMER DETECTIVE BOBBY BRUMFIELD SAYS PEOPLE NEED TO REPORT ANY TYPE OF HATE CRIME. >> THE COMMUNITY IS THE EARS AND EYEBALLS SO ITS IMPORTANT FOR THCOE MMUNITY GET MORE ACTIVE IN REPORTING THESE. NOTHING IS TO SMALL. >> KOWEL SAYS HE CAN’T PREDICT WHAT 2020 NUMBERS WILL LOOK LIKE BUT BRUMFIELD SUSPECTS HEAT CRIME REPORTING WILL BE EVEN HIGHER THAN 2019. YOU CAN REPORT HATE CRIMES ONLINE AT TIPS.FBI.GOV OR CALL