Miami-Dade Joint Police Operations Net 86 Arrests

MIAMI, FL — Joint police operations, aimed at curbing gun violence in high-crime areas of Miami and Miami-Dade County have netted 86 arrests over a two-week period, according to the area's top elected officials and law enforcement officers. Operation Blue and Brown has also resulted in the confiscation of 19 firearms, including an AK-47 rifle. The operations have been primarily targeted at Liberty Square and Brownsville.

"Some of the arrests that we've made include an arrest for murder, carrying a concealed firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, sales of narcotics just to name a few," explained Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina, who said that officers also served two warrants and carried out probation checks.

The patrols were instituted in response to several high-profile shootings involving young people that sparked outrage in the community. In one such incident, four former and current students at Miami Northwestern Sr. High School were gunned down in Miami's Liberty City section. Two did not survive.

One day before Easter, four-year-old Nyla Jones was killed by a family member during an apparent domestic dispute in another incident.

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday in a public show of solidarity among state, federal and local leaders, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said that the homicide rate had actually fallen about 35 percent over the past four years.

But this year appeared different.

"We've seen a very disturbing beginning to this year," according to Suarez.

Miami-Dade police have assigned 36 high visibility patrols in the targeted areas in addition to clandestine operations that have been ongoing.

Colina pointed to a reduction in the number of ShotSpotter alerts since the joint operations began. The acoustic technology triangulates the location of any gunshots it detects to within 10 feet.

"Two weeks prior to this operation being launched we had 14 ShotSpotter notifications," according to the chief. There have only been four since the Operation Blue and Brown. "We haven't had any incidents there. We're extremely proud of that."

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez added that the increased law enforcement presence will continue into the foreseeable future.

"Everybody deserves to live in peace. Everybody deserves to have the opportunity to walk outside their house without living in fear," he said. "We are going to keep our eyes focused on this issue until we bring this issue under control."

Colina called the response from residents overwhelming.

"They're thrilled to have us," he explained.

Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said that officials are hampered in reducing gun violence by virtue of the fact that possession of a firearm is only a misdemeanor offense for juveniles.

"There's not much the system can do," she explained, adding that the "overwhelming disproportionate number of contact shootings happen in a very concentrated part of our community."

Fernandez Rundle said she meets with mothers of murder victims regularly.

"It's heartbreaking," she acknowledged.

Her federal counterpart, U.S. Attorney Benjamin Greenberg, said that one of his top priorities is getting violent offenders off the streets.

"We need to work hard, and continue to work hard, to make sure that we are targeting not only the most violent criminals, but the most violent hot spots — the places where violence is plaguing every day life."

In Miami-Dade County, there are more than 100 active FBI investigations underway, according to Special Agent in Charge Robert F. Lasky, who said that his agency also has more than a dozen task forces, which include representation from Miami and Miami-Dade County.

Watch as officials discuss the problem of gun violence in North Miami-Dade and North Miami

Photo courtesy city of Miami