Tuesday, April 5, 2016
Lawrence County Sheriff's Department Participates in US Marshal Operation That Results in the Arrest of 159 Felons in Middle Tennessee
For the second consecutive year, the U.S. Marshals Service, in coordination with local law enforcement agencies including the Lawrence County Sheriff's Department, has conducted a high-impact national fugitive apprehension initiative focusing on the country’s most violent offenders. This six-week initiative, called Operation Violence Reduction12 (Operation VR12), resulted in the arrest of more than 159 fugitives, gang members, sex offenders and violent criminals and cleared 207 warrants in the Middle District of Tennessee.
In additional to the 159 fugitives arrested in Middle Tennessee, 19 subjects wanted from other states and districts were arrested here during the operation including Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Texas.
“We applied a strategically focused approach to locate and apprehend the nation’s most dangerous fugitives. By removing these violent offenders from the streets, the communities they preyed upon can immediately feel more secure,” said U.S. Marshals Service Deputy Director David Harlow. “Operation VR12 was about using our expertise and law enforcement partnerships to significantly impact our communities by focusing on the worst of the worst violent criminals.”
While Operation VR12 was conducted nationwide in all 94 federal judicial districts, U.S. Marshals focused special attention on 12 selected locations, designated as priority cities by the U.S. Department of Justice: Baltimore, Maryland; Brooklyn, New York; Camden, New Jersey; Chicago, Illinois; Compton, California; Fresno, California; Gary, Indiana; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; New Orleans, Louisiana; Oakland, California; Savannah, Georgia; and Washington, D.C.
In order to have the greatest impact on violent crime, Operation VR12 focused on fugitives who had three or more prior felony arrests for crimes such as murder, attempted murder, robbery, aggravated assault, arson, abduction/kidnapping, weapon offenses, sexual assault, child molestation and narcotics. Operation VR12 investigators increased their focus on fugitives accused of sex crimes and on the recovery of missing children.
Between February 1 and March 11, the U.S. Marshals Service used its multi-jurisdictional investigative authority and fugitive task force network to arrest 648 gang members and others wanted on charges including 559 for homicide; and 946 for sexual offenses. In addition, investigators seized 463 firearms, $390,360 in currency, and more than 71 kilograms of illegal narcotics. Also during the operation, investigators recovered 17 children who had been abducted and reported missing.
The concept behind interagency law enforcement operations such as Operation VR12 evolved largely from regional and district task forces. Since the 1980s, the Marshals Service has combined their resources and expertise with local, state and federal agencies to find and apprehend dangerous fugitives. Operation VR12 continued this tradition.
“The success of the Middle Tennessee Joint Fugitive Task Force during Operation VR12 is wholly attributable the strength of the relationships with our partner agencies and our common goal of keeping our communities safe,” said Middle District of Tennessee U.S. Marshal Louise Kelton.
"The Lawrence County Sheriff's Department is proud to be a part of the Middle Tennessee Joint Fugitive Task Force," said Sheriff Jimmy Brown. "Anytime you can share knowledge, resources and expertise in law enforcement, the public wins," he added.
