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Nashville, TN – At dawn on the first day,
fugitives in Middle Tennessee heard that unsettling
knock at their doors. Some hid, some ran, and some
just gave up. The results were the same. From June
15th to June 21st, Operation FALCON 2008 (Federal
and Local Cops Organized Nationally) teams spread
out across 32 Middle Tennessee counties to target
and arrest violent felons and sex offenders. As in
the previous three FALCON operations, U.S. Marshals
reached out to their federal, state, and local
partners to form a powerful enforcement coalition to
combat fugitive offenders on every jurisdictional
level. At the end of day seven, 802 fugitives had
been apprehended and 1,382 warrants were cleared.
Fifty-three firearms were seized and drugs with an
estimated street value of over $250,000 were
confiscated. The number of arrests and warrants
cleared in Middle Tennessee surpasses all other
FALCON operations nationally this year.
“It may never be known how many crimes were
prevented because these fugitives are now behind
bars, but no doubt our communities are safer tonight
than they were a week ago,” said U.S. Marshal Denny
King of Middle Tennessee.
“For four years running, Operation FALCON continues
to prove that federal, state, and local law
enforcement can work seamlessly as a team, and bring
some of the worst criminal offenders to justice,” he
said.
“The level of cooperation between local, state and
federal law enforcement is unparalleled when
preparing for and executing Operation FALCON”, said
United States Attorney Ed Yarbrough.
“When law enforcement works together to such an
extent, fugitives can only briefly escape
apprehension, as evidenced by the continuing success
of this initiative. I am extremely proud of our law
enforcement partners who participated in this
important endeavor,” said Yarbrough.
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Some fugitives may have been surprised to find out
that the county line did not shield them from
arrest. Many wanted persons moved to other counties,
perhaps to avoid officers and citizens who knew
them. FALCON found them. With several different
county officers working together, resources were
multiplied and intelligence on fugitives was
exchanged. 153 wanted persons were arrested in a
county other than where the warrant originated.
Prior to the operation, over 300 Middle Tennessee
state and local officers were sworn in as Special
Deputy U.S. Marshals. This special deputation
enabled FALCON teams to cross county lines, and
state lines if necessary to accomplish their
mission.
“The goal of Operation FALCON is simple – to make
communities safer,” said John F. Clark, Director of
the U.S. Marshals Service. “Each time we wrap up a
FALCON operation in any location, there are less
dangerous individuals – and fewer threats to the
community – than there were when we got there. That
is very gratifying.”
Agencies contributing to Operation FALCON 2008:
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives,
19th Judicial District TF, 23rd Judicial District TF,
Burns PD, Cannon SO, Cheatham SO, Clarksville PD,
Columbia PD, Cookeville PD, Coopertown PD,
Crossville PD, Cumberland City PD, Dickson PD,
Dickson SO, Dover PD, Federal Air Marshal Service,
FBI, Fentress SO, Franklin PD, Gainesboro PD,
Gallatin PD, Giles SO, Greenbrier PD, Hickman SO,
Houston SO, Humphreys SO, IRS-CID, Jackson SO,
LaFayette PD, LaVergne PD, Lawrence SO, U.S.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Lawrenceburg
PD, Lewis SO, Macon SO, Maury SO, McEwen PD, Metro
Nashville PD, Montgomery SO, Mt. Juliet PD,
Murfreesboro PD, New Johnsonville PD, Nolensville
PD, Pleasant View PD, Putnam SO, Robertson SO,
Rutherford SO, Smith SO, Smyrna PD, Spring Hill PD,
Springfield PD, Sumner SO, Tennessee Bureau of
Investigation, Tennessee Highway Patrol, Alcohol
Beverage Commission, Tennessee Office of Inspector
General, Tennessee Board of Probation and Parole,
Trousdale SO, TVA Police, U.S. Marshals Service,
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs OIG, Wayne SO,
Westmoreland PD, White Bluff PD, White House PD,
White SO, Williamson SO, Wilson SO, Woodbury PD.
For more information on Operation FALCON, visit
http://www.usmarshals.gov/falcon08/media.htm
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