Dallas, TX – Following on the success of
previous national and local FALCON initiatives, the
U.S. Marshals Service for the Northern District of
Texas conducted another successful Operation FALCON
(Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally) from
June 24-30. Operation FALCON – North Texas main
focus was capturing individuals wanted on felony
charges including sexual predators and fugitives
wanted for crimes of violence. Utilizing the
Marshals Service District Task Force, the Dallas
Fort Worth Fugitive Apprehension Strike Team (DFW
FAST), as the platform to coordinate Operation
FALCON, the mission was the most successful FALCON
thus far in the North Texas area. Over the course of
the seven-day operation, Deputy U.S. Marshals,
teamed with federal, state, and local law
enforcement partners, arrested 444 fugitives
clearing 573 felony warrants.
“While the Marshals are often the public face of
Operation FALCON, we have been extremely fortunate
that all of our federal, state and local partners
continue to wholeheartedly and enthusiastically come
together to make this work,” said John F. Clark,
Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. “With their
exceptional assistance, Operation FALCON continues
to be the largest and most successful fugitive
apprehension effort in U.S. Marshals history.”
Operation FALCON – North Texas consisted of
approximately 165 federal, state, and local law
enforcement officers, making up thirty separate
arrest teams working throughout the seven-day
period. Each participating local officer was sworn
in as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal immediately
prior to the start of this operation. This special
authority empowered them to cross traditional lines
of jurisdiction to track down and arrest targeted
fugitives throughout the week.
“I want to thank the executives that made it
possible for us to assemble over 165 law enforcement
officers from over 45 agencies. Operation FALCON –
North Texas has indeed been our most ambitious
undertaking to date. Because of that, the
professionalism and dedication of these officers was
instrumental in allowing us to achieve the greatest
number of arrests in North Texas since the operation
began. By thinking smarter and working more
effectively with our partners from the local,
county, state, and federal level we have made a
significant difference in making our communities
safer from violent crime, “ said United States
Marshal Randy Ely.
Participating agencies contributing to Operation
FALCON – North Texas included police departments
from the cities of Abilene, Alvarado, Arlington,
Burleson, Cleburne, Commerce, Dallas, Fort Worth,
Grand Prairie, Greenville, Rowlett, San Angelo.,
Terrell and Weatherford, in addition to the Dallas
Area Rapid Transit Police. Sheriffs Departments from
Dallas, Hunt, Kaufman, Johnson, Lubbock, Navarro,
Tarrant, Taylor and Tom Green counties. Abilene and
San Angelo City Marshal Offices, Dallas City
Attorney and Kaufman County District Attorney CID,
Dallas County Adult Probation Department, Kaufman
County Constables also assisted during the
operation. State agencies included the Texas
Rangers, Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas
Department of Criminal Justice. Federal agencies
included the BATF, DEA, FBI, ICE, USSS, Department
of Health & Human Services OIG, Department of
Veterans Affairs OIG, Housing & Urban Development
OIG, US Border Patrol and the United States Marshals
Service.
Since its inception in 2005, Operation FALCON has
made over 54,500 arrests and cleared over 68,800
warrants. It continues to be the largest and most
successful fugitive apprehension effort in U.S.
Marshals history.
For more information about Operation FALCON, visit
http://www.usmarshals.gov/falcon08/media.htm.
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