Local, state and federal law enforcement agencies joined forces for a monthlong fugitive apprehension effort during the month of June in the 46 counties of the Northern District of Georgia.

The Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally (FALCON) came into the district June 1, and by the time the operation was over, 1,195 fugitives had been apprehended and 1,488 warrants cleared, according to a news release. Arrests for Operation FALCON targeted fugitives wanted for violent crimes, sex offenders, gang members and narcotics violations. Participating agencies were encouraged to identify wanted persons within their communities, who were then targeted by assigned arrest teams within each geographical area.

“Due to the Griffin Police Department’s involvement with the United States Marshals in Operation FALCON, 140 outstanding warrants have been cleared by arrest in the Griffin area,” said Cpl. Bryan Clanton of the Griffin Police Department. The GPD provided officers from the Criminal Investigation Division, Special Investigations Unit, Uniform Patrol Division and Crime Suppression Unit, Clanton said.

“Sgt. Richard Phillips was the designated liaison from the GPD. The partnership with the U.S. Marshal Service was mutually beneficial for our community due to an exchange of resources, such as manpower and equipment,” Clanton said. “We are hoping to continue this cooperation in future operations.”

Operation FALCON 2009, the sixth in the series of U.S. Marshal Service-led fugitive apprehension initiatives, partners deputy U.S. marshals with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies, each dedicating manpower and resources to the goal of removing as many violent offenders from the streets as possible while clearing backlogged warrants from law enforcement files.

During this year’s operation in metro Atlanta, nearly 50 federal, state and local law enforcement agencies contributed officers who worked with teams led by members of the U.S. Marshal’s Southeast Regional Fugitive Task Force and deputies from the Northern District of Georgia. The result was hundreds of officers on the street putting criminal offenders behind bars.