ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Statistics show that Operation Legend, the federal initiative aimed at cracking down on violent crime in a handful of cities, is working. Authorities say since July federal agents have made more than 2,000 arrests in the program. Albuquerque is among eight targeted crime-infested cities.
U.S. Attorney General William Barr has called Operation Legend “a sustained, systematic and coordinated law enforcement initiative in which federal law enforcement agencies work in conjunction with state and local law enforcement officials to fight violent crime.” And it is getting results, according to the press release.
In Albuquerque 35 individuals have been arrested so far and charged with various offenses.
A federal update on Operation Legend shows that 15 defendants have been arrested and face narcoticsrelated offenses, 14 individuals have been charged with firearms-related offenses and six people have been charged with other violent crimes.
“These striking results prove that the Trump Administration is serious about eradicating violent crime in our dangerous cities,” said Steve Pearce, Republican Party of New Mexico chairman. “President Trump is committed to fighting crime and keeping law and order in our communities. The federal agents who arrived in Albuquerque are truly making a difference in a city where violent crime has soared. Mayor [Tim] Keller and others had denounced President Trump’s plan to deploy agents to Albuquerque, but these arrests demonstrate that Washington is clearly helping to sweep dangerous felons off the streets.”