06-15-2007, 12:34 AM
Dangerous Drugs, Weapons, Felons Taken Off the Streets
Three-day probation sweep nets nearly 100 arrests
Over the past few nights, while most residents in three Central Florida Counties were asleep, a joint task force of law enforcement officers and state probation officers was hard at work banging on doors of convicted felons. Their mission: to ensure compliance with the letter of the law – and the offenders’ court-ordered probation guidelines.
Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger pulled together the massive Probation Compliance Initiative (PCI) in response to an increased number of auto thefts, auto burglaries and other illegal activity occurring in the tri-county area.
The purpose of the initiative was to monitor and arrest any felony offender found to be in violation of his/her supervision. The initiative focused on a pre-selected group of felony offenders under supervision by the State of Florida for offenses of carjacking, robbery, burglary and grand theft auto.
Law enforcement officials from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (and all municipal agencies within both counties), Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Orlando Police Department were teamed with state probation officers and worked together to make face-to-face contact with felony offenders in the community. Additionally, Orange County Corrections Department provided special assistance with booking for offenders arrested in Orange County.
“Felony offenders who violate the terms of their probation pose a danger to our communities, and we cannot wait for a crime to happen before taking action in Florida's neighborhoods,” Governor Charlie Crist said. “These agencies are taking the right steps to protect Floridians and stay tough on crime.”
“This was a tremendous success, and a superbly coordinated effort between agencies,” added Corrections’ Secretary James R. McDonough. “I look forward to working with each of them again and continuing these ongoing efforts in other parts of the state.”
The operation, which took place May 21-23, included making contact with each offender, conducting a status check and a walk-through of the offenders’ residences, as well as any other locations frequented by the offenders. Participants also checked for stolen vehicles, weapons or any other contraband.
In total, more than 1515 contacts were made with offenders on supervision or with outstanding probation warrants, resulting in 96 arrests for violations, as well as the discovery of a meth lab, 50 grams of cocaine, eight pounds of marijuana and an automobile chop shop.
Three-day probation sweep nets nearly 100 arrests
Over the past few nights, while most residents in three Central Florida Counties were asleep, a joint task force of law enforcement officers and state probation officers was hard at work banging on doors of convicted felons. Their mission: to ensure compliance with the letter of the law – and the offenders’ court-ordered probation guidelines.
Seminole County Sheriff Don Eslinger pulled together the massive Probation Compliance Initiative (PCI) in response to an increased number of auto thefts, auto burglaries and other illegal activity occurring in the tri-county area.
The purpose of the initiative was to monitor and arrest any felony offender found to be in violation of his/her supervision. The initiative focused on a pre-selected group of felony offenders under supervision by the State of Florida for offenses of carjacking, robbery, burglary and grand theft auto.
Law enforcement officials from the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office (and all municipal agencies within both counties), Orange County Sheriff’s Office and Orlando Police Department were teamed with state probation officers and worked together to make face-to-face contact with felony offenders in the community. Additionally, Orange County Corrections Department provided special assistance with booking for offenders arrested in Orange County.
“Felony offenders who violate the terms of their probation pose a danger to our communities, and we cannot wait for a crime to happen before taking action in Florida's neighborhoods,” Governor Charlie Crist said. “These agencies are taking the right steps to protect Floridians and stay tough on crime.”
“This was a tremendous success, and a superbly coordinated effort between agencies,” added Corrections’ Secretary James R. McDonough. “I look forward to working with each of them again and continuing these ongoing efforts in other parts of the state.”
The operation, which took place May 21-23, included making contact with each offender, conducting a status check and a walk-through of the offenders’ residences, as well as any other locations frequented by the offenders. Participants also checked for stolen vehicles, weapons or any other contraband.
In total, more than 1515 contacts were made with offenders on supervision or with outstanding probation warrants, resulting in 96 arrests for violations, as well as the discovery of a meth lab, 50 grams of cocaine, eight pounds of marijuana and an automobile chop shop.