Southern District of Georgia – The 43 counties
in the Southern District of Georgia are much safer
this week as local, state and federal law
enforcement joined forces for a week-long fugitive
apprehension effort last week. FALCON, the acronym
for Federal And Local Cops Organized Nationally,
soared into the district June 9 and by the time the
week was over 292 fugitives had been apprehended and
411 warrants cleared.
Operation FALCON 2008, the fifth in the series of
U.S. Marshals Service-led fugitive apprehension
initiatives partnered deputy U.S. marshals with
local police, sheriffs, state troopers, parole and
probation officers and other federal agencies, each
dedicating man power and resources to the goal of
removing as many violent offenders from our streets
and communities as possible while clearing
backlogged warrants from law enforcement’s files.
The
successful partnership has been bad news for
criminals for the past four years as law enforcement
joined together with community safety and crime
reduction as a common goal, capturing over 36,500
fugitives during the past four years.
Arrests
in the Southern District of Georgia targeted
fugitives wanted for crimes of violence, sex
offenders, gang members and narcotics violations.
Participating agencies were encouraged to identify
wanted persons within their communities who were
then targeted by assigned arrest teams within each
geographical area.
Of the
warrants cleared by arrest, 111 were for narcotics
charges, 13 were for weapon offenses, 19 were for
assault charges and 13 sex offenders were arrested.
The remaining warrants were for charges ranging from
burglary and robbery to arson and vehicle theft.
Also, 90 parole or probation violators were arrested
which is of special importance in our communities as
these violators show a continuing disregard for the
law.
“We are
pleased that local law enforcement often looks upon
operations such as FALCON as an opportunity to
address fugitive apprehension issues in their
communities,” said John F. Clark, Director of the
U.S. Marshals Service. “In the end, when this
operation is over, our local partners are the people
who will continue to live and work in the
communities that Operation FALCON serves. We are
committed to leaving behind a safer community for
all of them.”
The
success of the FALCON operations has proven to be
the largest and most successful fugitive
apprehension efforts in the history of the U.S.
Marshals. When law enforcement agencies combine
their resources, the greater good of society always
comes out on top.
Edmund
A. Booth Jr., the United States Attorney for the
Southern District of Georgia, commented on the
success of the fugitive apprehension operation by
noting that the citizens in the Southern District of
Georgia are now much safer. Booth said that “by
removing these fugitives from our streets we help
create a safer environment so that our citizens can
more safely live and work in their communities.”
“The cooperation and enthusiasm of law enforcement
agencies in the Southern District of Georgia has
always been incredible,” said U.S. Marshal Tom
Roberts. “We are facing new challenges in law
enforcement and must always adapt to overcome
sometimes overwhelming odds when faced with the
criminal element that places our communities in
danger.
With our
law enforcement partners, law enforcement at all
levels is dedicated to a safer Georgia, nation and
world and it shows in this tremendous success.”
For more information about Operation FALCON, visit
http://www.usmarshals.gov/falcon08/media.htm
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