U.S. Marshals Service Participates in Multi-Agency Operation

During the week of November 4-10, 2011, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) in Northern California, the USMS Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force (PSWRFTF), U.S. Marshals Sex Offender Investigations Branch (SOIB), the USMS Tactical Operations Group (TOG) Air Branch, the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF), USMS Special Operations Group (SOG), the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and the Oakland Police Department (OPD) partnered with the California Department of Corrections, California Highway Patrol, ATF, DEA/HIDTA, Secret Service, and OIG/HUD to conduct a multi-stage warrant sweep and “hot-spot” saturation operation.

As of October 16, 2011, the city of Oakland has reported a 36% increase in homicides, 27% increase in ADW (firearms), and a 5% increase in robberies. Weapons related arrests are down 16% year to date. As a result, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Northern California, Melinda Haag, and the U.S. Marshal for Northern California, Donald O’Keefe, began planning the multi-agency operation in conjunction with the Chief of OPD, Howard Jordan, over two months ago.

During the mission several multi-agency teams of law enforcement officers safely located and arrested subjects for which state arrest warrants have been issued. Teams also conducted saturation patrols in identified violent crime hot-spots in an effort to prevent acts of violent crimes as well as apprehending warrant suspects. Teams conducted probation, parole and sex offender compliance checks, as well as executing searches at residences associated with known criminal activity and or acts of violence. In addition, the Oakland Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit gathered intelligence information related to violent crime.

Over the course of the week, 138 arrests were made as well as the seizure of 13 firearms. Also confiscated during the operation were two ballistic vests, 6 lbs of marijuana, 11 oz. of methamphetamine, 2 oz. of heroin, 25 grams of cocaine, various other narcotics, and 15 stolen vehicles.

The mission concluded with a joint press conference held at the Oakland Police Headquarters on Thursday, November 10, 2011. All participating agencies were represented. Also present was the Mayor of Oakland, Jean Quan, and the Oakland City Administrator, Deanna Santana.