Mobile Alabama police sweep city-arrest 275-recover 28 guns www.privateofficer.com
MOBILE, Alabama Aug 1 2012– In two weeks, 275 people have been arrested and 28 guns seized during the Mobile Police Department’s newest campaign on crime known as Operation IMPACT.
The arrests resulted in those 275 people being charged with 104 felonies and 387 misdemeanors, police said today.
Mobile Police Chief Micheal Williams announced the two-week numbers today during the Mobile City Council meeting.
He said the operation is expected to continue through the summer, and more results will be released as they become available.
“We’ve expended substantial overtime on special tactical units,” Mobile Mayor Sam Jones told the council after Williams’ report. “Our goal is to make it uncomfortable for the criminal element.”
Williams also released details about how many youth have been detained since a teen curfew was enacted. Since November, he said, 408 teens were detained. Of that total, 277 were males and 131 were female, Williams said. Police detained 272 of the teens during non-school hours.
On July 18, Williams and Jones announced the formation of Operation IMPACT, which stands for Integrated Municipal Police Anti-Crime Team, to thwart gun and drug problems in Mobile.
Jones said the initiative is the result of the recent wave of gun and drug crimes.
Jones said the city would give Williams “whatever resources” he needed to stamp out violent crime. The campaign against crime calls for deploying more than 50 officers into the Mobile community to focus primarily on crimes involving guns and drugs.
Police officials have identified problem areas where tapped officers will be dispatched. The department also has initiated a gun buyback program that will offer gift cards from area retailers to those who turn in illegal firearms.
Another goal of the IMPACT program involves offering incentives for those that provide police with information, including offering $100 rewards for tips.
Residents can call 251-208-7000 or text 274637 to report illegal guns, drugs or other criminal activity, authorities have said.
Source:AL.com
