More than 580 arrests were made during a recent five-day, multi-agency operation organized by the Phoenix Police Department (PPD) aimed at “enhancing public safety by proactively addressing violent offenders.”
The operation, dubbed ‘Operation Summer Shield,” took place earlier this month from June 5 through June 9 and resulted in hundreds of arrests, as well as gun and drug seizures, according to PPD.
#PHXPD teamed up alongside other agencies for their “Operation Summer Shield” kick off from June 5th to June 9th.
For more information on “Operation Summer Shield” visit https://t.co/0AnQS0BsNP pic.twitter.com/yuFRGg0fnT— Phoenix Police (@PhoenixPolice) June 15, 2023
The multi-agency action resulted in the arrest of more than 580 individuals, of which approximately 420 were for felony charges. In addition, more than 230 of those arrested during the operation had a criminal history that included violence and 16 absconders of the Department of Corrections were located and brought back to prison.
The agencies also seized nearly 520,000 fentanyl pills, more than 5 pounds of methamphetamine, and more than 40 weapons – all of which were taken from prohibited possessors, according to PPD.
One vehicle pulled over during the five-day operation contained 500,000 fentanyl pills and 3.5 pounds of methamphetamine.
Officers assigned to Operation Summer Shield pulled over a car which led to a drug bust. Two men were booked on multiple felonies.
🚔Over 500,000 fentanyl pills
🚔3.5 pounds methamphetamine
🚔1 handgun#PHXPD#PHXPDDesertHorizonPrecinct#OperationSummerShield pic.twitter.com/pWG3D5HWfa— Phoenix Police (@PhoenixPolice) June 17, 2023
During the course of the operation, four homicide cases and close to 700 active warrants were also cleared.
The department adds that while the operation’s duration was only five days, the planning and coordination took seven weeks, which included “meeting with law enforcement partners, identifying internal resources, and using data driven intelligence to perform records checks on violent offenders with felony warrants.”
The law enforcement agencies that partnered with PPD for Operation Summer Shield include the 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 Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Phoenix Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration; Homeland Security Investigations Phoenix; and the U.S. Marshals District of Arizona.
“The City of Phoenix is safer than it was just one week ago because of Operation Summer Shield…This is an incredible example of what can be done when we all work together and put the safety of our community first, I am proud of the work that everyone a part of this operation did,” Interim Police Chief Michael Sullivan said in a statement.
– – –
Kaitlin Housler is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network.
Photo “Phoenix Police Department” by Phoenix Police Department.
