PHOENIX —
More than 580 arrests were made last week during a multiagency partnership that targeted offenders with outstanding warrants, the Phoenix Police Department announced Thursday.
The effort to enhance public safety by "proactively" addressing violent offenders was dubbed Operation Summer Shield 2023.
Sgt. Rob Scherer said during a news conference Thursday that one of the biggest concerns residents have is violent crimes.
"I hope you're as astounded as I was when I saw the numbers," Scherer said.
The operation took several weeks of planning and was executed between June 5-9.
Of the 580 arrests, police said:
- 420 were felony arrests
- 48 firearms were seized
- 21 arrestees found with guns had firearms illegally
- five pounds of meth were found
- half a million fentanyl pills seized
- four were suspects in homicide cases
- 16 absconders returned to prison
The agencies involved include:
- Maricopa County Attorney’s Office
- Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office
- Arizona Department of Public Safety
- United States Attorney’s Office, District of Arizona
- Phoenix Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigations
- Phoenix Field Office of the Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms
- Phoenix Division of the Drug Enforcement Bureau
- Homeland Security Investigations Phoenix
- U.S. Marshals District of Arizona
>> This is a breaking news story. It will be updated as more information becomes available.
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