‘Operation Safe Neighborhoods’: Gangsters, guns, drugs targeted in Fresno crime sweep

Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama on Tuesday said a task force of local, state and federal officers made 106 felony arrests, seized 40 firearms and confiscated $140,000 in drug money during a week-long enforcement sweep.

“Operation Safe Neighborhoods” included Fresno police, county law enforcement, including sheriff’s officers, federal agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Homeland Security.

Balderrama said the mission was to go after the surge in violent crime that has impacted Fresno, along with the rest of the nation since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. County Probation officers also took part in the operation to ensure convicted offenders were in compliance with conditions of their releases, making 69 searches.

“We sent a message: Law enforcement is not going to tolerate gang violence,” the chief said.

There were no homicides in the city and one shooting victim during the week of the operation, the first week of November.

He added: “When I got here (in January 2021), we were on a pace to have 120 homicides. We need to keep the pressure on to slow (crime).”

There have been 65 homicides in Fresno in 2021 through Nov. 1.

Officers also recovered sizable quantities of drugs, including heroin, cocaine and Xanax during the operation.

Fresno County District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp said so far, her office has filed in 19 cases against those arrested in the operation and she expects that most of the remaining suspects will face charges, as well.

Fifteen district attorney’s investigators were active in the operation. Smittcamp called it successful because of “proactive police tactics.”

On display at the news conference were multiple handguns, rifles, and shotguns seized during the sweep. In recent arrests, police throughout the central San Joaquin alley have encountered numerous so-called “ghost guns,” which are manufactured illegally without serial numbers. Balderrama noted the weapons are in the focus of his officers.

“That’s something we are working very closely with the ATF on,” he said.

This story was originally published November 9, 2021 at 1:16 PM.