U.S. Marshals Announce the Start of Operation Silver Shield

Baltimore, MD – The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) and task force partners in the District of Maryland are initiating a large-scale, public safety initiative. ‘Operation Silver Shield’ is a 90-day interagency operation designed to improve public safety by targeting non-compliant sex offenders and fugitives wanted for associated offense conduct. The goal of this operation, which runs from May through August, is to protect the community by prioritizing the recovery of critically missing children and arresting those offenders who pose the greatest risk to public safety. 

In support of Operation Silver Shield, the U.S. Marshals Service will integrate the agency’s violent crime strategy, Strategically Targeted Apprehension Response (STAR), with community-policing practices to facilitate impactful operations across the state of Maryland. The U.S. Marshals Service intends to leverage its Capital Area Regional Fugitive Task Force (CARFTF) to support those communities most affected by egregious crime and exploitation. 

“While the U.S. Marshals Service has a proven track record of working with our federal, state, and local partners to improve public safety, we are always striving to do better,” stated Mathew Silverman, acting United States Marshal for the District of Maryland. “Throughout Operation Silver Shield, we will prioritize community engagement and work hand-in-hand with local citizens to develop tips and leads so that we can all help make the state of Maryland a safer place to raise a family.”

Anyone with information on a non-compliant/wanted sex offender, violent fugitive, or critically missing child is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals Service office at 1-866-4WANTED or USMS Tips.

The USMS CARFTF began operations in June 2004. The CARFTF has partnership agreements with more than 133 federal, state, and local agencies and operates in Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia. The CARFTF has apprehended more than 78,000 fugitives since its inception and is always striving to make communities safer.