From the Clarion Ledger, Pam Denkins, August 29th, 2024
"Your time here is over. You don’t run this city, and you are not immune to the law. We will not surrender our streets to you," Gov. Reeves said to the criminal element in the city.
More than six months after Gov. Tate Reeves announced a public safety operation aimed at removing drug traffickers and violent criminals from the streets in Jackson, law enforcement officials are revealing some more updates on the initiative.
The initiative is called "Operation Unified."
According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, authorities have seized over "400 firearms, including several with illegal modifications, confiscated more than $360,000, recovered nearly 200 pounds of narcotics and made over 2,000 arrests."
"Our officers and agents continue to work together on this operation all across Jackson to ensure the safety of everyone in the capital city," the public safety department wrote in a Wednesday social media post. "We commend our officers and agents for their tireless efforts to protect our city, the work you do does not go unnoticed."
In February, Reeves stood with law enforcement leaders, state officials and city officials at a press conference as each official came forth stating the safety and well-being of Jackson's citizens is a priority.
'You don't run this city':Gov. Reeves reveals operation aimed to reduce crime in Jackson
According to Reeves, the initiative started in mid-January. No statistics were provided as to how many alleged criminals had been captured under the new program at the Feb. 13 press conference.
At a March 28 press conference, Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell revealed that since the beginning of the operation, authorities "had over 600 arrests, seized over 250 firearms, over 500 pounds of illicit drugs and seized over $30,000."
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Agencies participating in the operation include the Mississippi Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Narcotics, Capitol Police and Office of Homeland Security, the Jackson Police Department, the Hinds County District Attorney and Hinds County Sheriff’s Office, the Mississippi Department of Corrections, the FBI, DEA and ATF, as well as the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
