WICHITA, Kan. – It’s been a busy month for authorities across the nation.
More than 35,000 fugitives, including one Kansas City, Kan., man, were taken off the streets in Operation FALCON, a massive yearly warrant sweep spearheaded by the United States Marshall’s Service.
Operation FALCON 2009 began June 1 and targets violent offenders.
“We focused our resources and targeted these violent offenders,” US Marshal for the District of Kansas Walter Bradley said. “And as a result our streets in Kansas are now safer.”
Taiwan Hogan, of KCK, absconded from bond is one of the fugitives apprehended in the operation. He was known to carry firearms and was caught trying to hide weapons and narcotics when officers entered his residence.
“By taking large numbers of violent fugitives off the street, we put an immediate end to their unlawful activities,” John Clark, US Marshal Director, said. “This is significant, since many of these criminals have a long history of violence and abuse.”
In the latest operation, more than 2,000 police agencies, including officers from all 50 states and various federal agencies, worked to clear the streets of violent criminals.
“I continue to be impressed with the remarkable results that can be achieved when all law enforcement comes together,” said Clark, who has overseen five of the six FALCON operations. “What began five years ago as a promising concept has become the most effective fugitive apprehension effort in the long history of the US Marshals.”
Operation FALCON has now accounted for 91,086 arrests and 117,874 cleared warrants nationwide since 2005.
In Kansas, Operation FALCON 2009 took 248 fugitives off the streets and cleared 282 warrants, Walter’s office said. We'll update this story with numbers for Missouri as soon as they come in.
