Savannah, GA – Following a five-year tradition of success in its national efforts, the U.S. Marshals Service locally and in conjunction with the U.S. Marshals Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force conducted another successful Operation FALCON – Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally. Led by the U.S. Marshals, Operation FALCON 2009 netted 326 arrests locally, 1927 statewide and 35,190 nationally.

Operation FALCON – Southern District of Georgia covered the 43 counties that make up the district. Operation FALCON combined the collective efforts of multiple law enforcement agencies in one of the area’s largest-ever fugitive initiatives, focusing on capturing individuals wanted on felony charges including sexual predators and fugitives wanted for crimes of violence. Over the course of the month-long operation, Deputy U.S. Marshals, teamed with federal, state and local law enforcement partners, arrested 326 fugitives, including 15 sex offenders and cleared 500 warrants in the Southern District of Georgia.

Frederick Doe, a sex offender wanted for failure to register as a sex offender. Doe was a targeted sex offender that needed to be taken off the street. Marshals and local law enforcement tracked him to an address in Screven County; Doe was arrested without incident.

“The goal of Operation FALCON is simple – to make communities safer,” said John F. Clark, Director of the U.S. Marshals Service. “Each time we wrap up a FALCON operation in any location, there are less dangerous individuals – and fewer threats to the community – than before we arrived there. That is very gratifying.”

Operation FALCON – Southern Georgia consisted of approximately 280 federal, state and local law enforcement officers, making up six separate arrest teams working throughout the operation. Each participating local officer was sworn in as a Special Deputy U.S. Marshal immediately prior to the start of this operation. This special authority empowers them to cross traditional lines of jurisdiction to track down and arrest targeted fugitives throughout the operation.

“The cooperation and enthusiasm of law enforcement agencies in the Southern District of Georgia has been incredible,” said U.S. Marshal Tom Roberts. “Through the use of partnerships, we are able to create joint teams and task forces that have the Marshals’ authority to cross boundaries. No fugitive is safe from arrest. Our goal is to take the first time criminal and the recidivist who refuses to be law abiding off the street for a very long time. FALCON gives us the manpower mechanism to make periodic massive sweeps to achieve that goal. All of us are dedicated to making the communities of Southern District of Georgia safer places to live and we will strongly pursue that objective.”

Agencies contributing to Operation FALCON – Southern Georgia were the:

FALCON 2009                     FALCON 2006

Sexual Offenses/Assault/
Failure to Register                                   15                                            35

Arson                                                      1                                              0

Burglary/Larceny                                     75                                             0

Homicide                                                2                                              2 (attempted)

Narcotics                                               82                                            36

Vehicle Theft                                          9                                              0

Since its inception in 2005, Operation FALCON has made more than 91,086 arrests and cleared more than 117,874 warrants. Operation Falcon continues to be the largest and most successful fugitive apprehension effort in U.S. Marshals history.

For more information on Operation FALCON 2009, please visit www.usmarshals.gov/falcon09/index.html.

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