Police sweep in Aurora targets parolees, nets 26 arrests (Chicago Breaking News Center)

Police sweep in Aurora targets parolees, nets 26 arrests
October 4, 2010 6:09 PM
-- Art Barnum

A two-day weekend sweep of Aurora parole violators by more than 100 police officers from local, county, state and federal law enforcement agencies resulted in 26 arrests and 11 previously convicted felons being sent back to a state prison.

"Operation Clean Sweep", spearheaded by the Aurora Police Department on Friday and Saturday, consisted of teams of officers simultaneously serving outstanding arrest warrants, assuring that offenders currently on parole are in compliance with conditions of their release while offering high saturation police patrols in targeted areas.

The effort resulted in 26 arrests based on 39 warrants for crimes ranging from attempted murder to traffic violations. Also, seven guns held illegally were seized and one person was deported. Three people were arrested on drug charges, one for obstructing justice and 10 for driving on suspended or revoked driver's licenses.

Illinois State Police expanded the concept into Aurora after organizing similar operations in Chicago. Aurora police officials said they plan similar efforts in the future and hope that the program will be expanded into other state communities.

Aurora police officials point to the joint operations with law enforcement agencies as a major reason that total crime, through August, is down over 17 percent with violent crime down 18.5 percent and property crime down almost 17 percent over the same period last year. The five- and 10-year trends show even more significant drops with crime being down almost 25 percent in the five-year trend and almost 30 percent in the 10-year trend.

Assisting Aurora and Illinois State Police were the Illinois Department of Corrections, the U.S. Marshals Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, Kane County Sheriff's Office, Kane County Major Crimes Task Force, North Central Narcotics Task Force, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Naperville and Bloomingdale police departments.