Florida Sheriffs Task Force Announces Latest Operation
By: Blake Deshazo
Updated: October 26, 2012
Florida Sheriffs Task Force Announces Latest Operation
For Immediate Release
October 25, 2012
The
Walton County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) in partnership with The Florida
Sheriffs Task Force recently launched an initiative to remove felons
from Florida's streets.
Operation: Felon Sweep focused on removing violent felons, felons with
outstanding warrants, and sexual offenders and predators from our
communities.
The
WCSO was proud to take an active role in this initiative and to lead
the charge in Walton County. During the sweep, a number of cases were
made to include the
raid of Woodstock, a local head shop; Christopher Black was arrested
when a stolen firearm from Okaloosa County along with narcotic equipment
was located during a traffic stop in South Walton; and the arrest of
Gene Alden, who was charged with distribution
and possession of obscene material involving a minor.
"Our
team of deputies and investigators worked hard during this operation to
apprehend criminals living in our community. Walton County continues
to be a great place
to live and we intend to keep it that way," Sheriff Michael Adkinson
stated on Thursday as the numbers from Operation Felon Sweep were
released.
The
Florida Sheriffs Taskforce is proud to have coordinated this effort to
make Florida's streets a safer place for its citizens. This operation
combined efforts from
44 Sheriff's Offices and focused on removing violent felons and felons
with outstanding warrants off the streets. The Operation in Walton
County only resulted in 91 felony arrests, 10 misdemeanor arrests, 1
firearm seized, and various amounts of methamphetamine,
crack/cocaine, and marijuana. In addition to the arrests and seizures,
96 sexual offender/predator checks were completed.
"Felonies
are taken very seriously and we at the Florida Sheriffs Association are
proud to lead this initiative to get criminals off the streets," said
FSA President,
Sheriff Susan Benton. "The Florida Sheriffs Task Force will continue to
work tirelessly to make Florida one of the safest states in the
country."
The
Florida Sheriffs Task Force pools resources from the 67 Sheriffs'
Offices to address specific areas of concern. Past task forces have
dealt with issues such as
cyber sexual predators, prescription drug abuse and "deadbeat dads." The
Florida Sheriffs Task Force also is the point of contact for statewide
initiatives, including helping to staff the State Emergency Operations
Center and coordinating Sheriffs' offices
responding to storm-ravaged communities during hurricanes and other
catastrophic disasters.
