Operation Closeout Nets Hundreds Of Arrests

The effort has been quietly underway since early November.  It will continue through the end of the year.

The Birmingham Police Department's "Operation Closeout" has led to more than 300 arrests on a variety of charges.

"We've arrested people for everything from not paying their tickets to capital murder," Lt. Scott Praytor said, adding that the daily deployment of officers for extra patrols is based on continuously-updated crime trends.

"When we see that crime is rising in an area, we address it immediately," Praytor said.  "And we've found it to be pretty effective."

The task force conducting the operation consists of patrol officers, detectives, tactical officers, and lawmen from other BPD divisions.  The officers roam the streets, usually in unmarked vehicles.  At times, they're searching for specific people wanted on outstanding warrants.  Other times, they're simply keeping an eye out for anything suspicious.

"We use different vehicles every day.  We use different tactics," Praytor said.  "So people don't know if we're coming or going."

"We've caught some burglars during this operation red-handed, coming right out of the house," Officer Christopher Hutchinson said as he cruised a residential area Thursday.  "Prettymuch right now, we're strictly focusing on zero tolerance, and that's self-explanatory.  I mean zero tolerance for everything."

"We are engaging people walking down the street.  We're getting out and talking to them," Praytor added.  "The people that live in that community where we're doing that, whatever community that is that day, they're happy to see us.  And the bad guys that aren't supposed to be there, that are out looking for trouble, they're not happy to see us."

Hutchinson added that relationship-building is good for any officer, especially those who patrol the same communities every day.

"Police work is not only in the car," Hutchinson said.  "Park the car here, and walk a block.  You know, you'd be surprised at what you see, what you hear."

This is the second year for the operation.  Officers focus largely on neighborhoods in the western and eastern sides of town, though any neighborhood is fair game for extra patrols depending on daily needs.