11 Alive: Results announced after $5 million, yearlong Atlanta anti-crime effort
Gov. Brian Kemp said Wednesday that hundreds of arrests had been made and hundreds more stolen weapons and vehicles recovered out of a $5 million, yearlong anti-crime initiative announced last year.
Releasing the results of the initiative - a multi-agency "crime suppression unit" that targeted the metro Atlanta area - Kemp said that there had been 26 murder arrests, 451 arrests of wanted suspects, 342 stolen weapons secured and 312 stolen vehicles recovered.
"As I said shortly after this unit began this good fight, we will use every resource at our disposal to rid our communities of crime and keep Georgia families safe," Kemp said.
Governor, heads of metro law enforcement agencies say crime suppression unit is working
“We will use every resource at our disposal to rid our communities of crime and keep Georgia families safe,” Kemp said.
Since April 2021, Kemp says the unit made 23,000 vehicle stops, handed out 16,000 citations, made 588 DUI arrests and impounded 1,300 vehicles.
He also says they nabbed 451 wanted people -- including 26 murder suspects. Kemp said the unit also recovered 342 stolen weapons and 312 stolen cars.
“I’ve never seen an operation work more seamlessly than this one,” said GBI director Vic Reynolds.
Atlanta Journal-Constitution: A year later, Kemp touts success of state’s Crime Suppression Unit
Speaking at Liberty Plaza outside the State Capitol, Kemp touted the work of the multi-agency unit he created in April 2021 to help reduce rising crime rates and curb street racing across the metro area.
Flanked by GBI Director Vic Reynolds, Atlanta Police Chief Rodney Bryant, Fulton County Sheriff Patrick Labat and the heads of several state agencies, Kemp praised those involved for “taking the fight to criminals.” He also touted the unit as an example of what can happen when law enforcement agencies combine resources and work together.
Georgia Department of Public Safety Colonel Chris Wright also shared the following comments:
"It was Governor Kemp who saw citizen’s lives in danger and their livelihoods at risk due to the reckless and criminal behavior plaguing the City of Atlanta. It was his vision to begin crime suppression operations to help combat crime; and his vision to create a full-time crime suppression unit. Proactive policing and high visibility patrols result in crime reduction and improve the quality of life for our citizens. We share the governor’s vision of reducing crime and making Georgia communities safer."
Original source found here.
