Los Angeles, CA: Operation North Star is part of President Joe Biden’s comprehensive strategy to tackle the persistent spike in gun related crimes, and Los Angeles is one of ten cities that currently shows a large increase in recent homicide shootings that the operation will be addressing, according to the Los Angeles Police Department.
According to a news release by LAPD, North Star is designed to support local law enforcement with federal tools and resources to address violent crime. The task force that will spearhead Operation North Star in Los Angeles includes LAPD’S Gang and Narcotics Division in partnership with the United States Marshals Service / Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force.
LAPD stated,”Operation North Star will concentrate on fugitives with arrest warrants, wanted for the most serious, violent, and harmful offenses, to include; homicide, forcible sexual assault, robbery, and aggravated assaults.”
“Operation North Star personnel from the multi-agency collaboration has identified nearly 14,500 active and outstanding felony warrants in the Los Angeles area, many of which will be acted upon by joint teams consisting of personnel from the United States Marshal’s service, in conjunction with LAPD’s Gang and Narcotics unit and Fugitive Warrant Section,” LAPD stated.
According to LAPD, the operation will take place between June 1, 2022, to June 30, 2022, with an extension beyond that 30-day period for operational purposes agreed upon by partnering agencies.
LAPD said, “The goal of the operation is to arrest as many of the most serious and violent felons who have outstanding warrants in the Los Angeles area.”
“To prepare for Operation North Star, Operation FAST was conducted over a 72-hour period from March 28, 2022 to March 30, 2022. A citywide violent crime reduction initiative was led by the Los Angeles Police Department Gang and Narcotics Division, who partnered with the United States Marshals Service / Pacific Southwest Regional Fugitive Task Force (PSWRFTF). The 3-day crime reduction initiative focused on suspects wanted for violent crimes within the City of Los Angeles, specifically focusing on Part 1 Crimes (Murder, Attempt Murder, Robbery, Sexual Assaults),” stated LAPD in the release.
LAPD reported Operation FAST yielded the following results:
- 15 Documented Gang Members Arrested
- 10 Firearms Seized
- 30 Total Arrests:
- 10 for Homicide
- 9 for Attempt Homicide
- 3 for Armed Robbery
- 1 for Assault with a Deadly Weapon (firearm)
- 4 for Great Bodily Injury to a Child
- 3 for Rape of a Child under 14