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More than 10 percent of Savannah’s most violent offenders are off the streets and behind bars as the result of a six-week national U.S. Marshals Service enforcement initiative to crack down on crime.
Savannah was one of 12 focus cities in Operation Violence Reduction 12, which sought to reduce crime rates across the country by lowering the number of violent offenders walking the streets.
The initiative, which took place from Feb. 1 to March 11, was conducted nationwide in all 94 federal judicial districts — but special attention was given to 12 locations that have seen a growing rate in crime. Besides Savannah, those cities included Baltimore; New York; Camden, N.J.; Chicago; Compton; Fresno and Oakland, Calif.; Gary, Ind., Milwaukee; and New Orleans.
U.S. Attorney Edward Tarver said the Savannah area is one of six regions that has experienced a rise in crime rates over the last few years, despite declining national rates.
“People in Savannah should not be afraid to walk down the street for fear of being hit by a stray bullet,” Tarver said. “Our residents should be able to sit on their front porch without fear of gang violence. Between 2013 and 2015, violent crime in the Savannah area has risen in excess of 30 percent.”
Nationally, police arrested more than 8,000 fugitives, including 144 in the Savannah area.
U.S. marshals also cleared 177 felony warrants locally and seized seven firearms, a round of ammunition, $6,085 in currency and 3.234 kilograms of drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, prescription pills and methamphetamine.
“They’re shutting that revolving door on crime and removing these criminals from our community,” said Stephen Smith, U.S. marshal for the Southern District of Georgia.
Targeted fugitives included those wanted for murder and related charges, robbery, aggravated assault, arson, kidnapping, sexual assault and child molestation or fugitives who have three previous felony arrests related to narcotics, weapons, assault or battery and threats.
‘The most dangerous of dangerous’
For six weeks, specially deputized marshals assisted local law enforcement agencies, including Savannah-Chatham police and the Chatham County Sheriff’s Office in tracking down and arresting “the most dangerous of dangerous” in Savannah.
The local Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force is one of seven in the country that gathers data and shares it with federal officials, who then decide which jurisdictions need the most attention. Agencies then get together, go over a list of criminals and formulate plans to capture criminals.
Additional manpower was dispensed to Savannah and the other 11 cities to reduce crime in those that have been affected by what Smith called “the epidemic of violence.”
Among those arrested locally was Andre Daise, who was wanted for the fatal Christmas shooting of 53-year-old Randy Hooks; Denzel Atkins, who was charged with felony murder by Atlanta police and charged with arson by the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office; and Christopher Walker, who was wanted on more than 20 charges, including aggravated assault and possession of a firearm by a felon.
Savannah-Chatham Police Chief Joseph Lumpkin said the arrests are evidence of the impact law enforcement agencies can have when they work together.
“These people don’t get up and go to work after they have shot, killed or maimed somebody,” Lumpkin said. “These individuals are the most dangerous of the dangerous in our society. This effort shows that what we can do working together, collaborating and operating on local, state and federal levels, is we can support marshals in this community and make a significant difference.”
And officials say efforts to reduce crime wont stop although the initiative has concluded.
“We work day to day with the (Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force) to stop violent crime,” Lumpkin said. “The U.S. marshals are not going away.”
A combination of federal and state charges are expected to be filed against those arrested,” said Chatham County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Brian Counihan.
“This is a community service,” Counihan said. “It sets a standard in this community.”