Police arrest more than 275 in operation, Fresno chief says. Dozens of guns seized
Officers made 139 felony arrests of people — many described as gang members — during a two-week operation, Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama said Tuesday.
Operation Safe Neighborhoods also led to 140 misdemeanor arrests, 58 gang-related arrests and 57 guns seized, police said.
“The positive thing about these guns obviously is they’re not in the hands of individuals who are going to further hurt our community,” Balderrama said Tuesday at a news conference.
The operation targeted street violence, illegal guns, street gangs and violent offenders, according to police.
Balderrama said Fresno police seized about 2,000 guns in 2021, fewer last year and could see even fewer in 2023.
“We’re actually taking fewer guns off the street, which gives me hope there’s actually fewer guns in circulation,” he said.
Fifteen of the guns taken in the latest operation were ghost guns, when a firearm is bought in pieces and assembled at home to avoid having to register them, police said. Other guns seized were from out of state, but none of the 57 weapons were previously reported stolen, Balderrama said.
Officials said about 70% of those arrested in the operation for the alleged felonies remained in custody on Tuesday.
The city of Fresno has seen 167 shootings through Tuesday, which is down from nearly 200 at the same time last year, Balderrama said. That’s a decrease of 16% decrease.
Homicides in Fresno are also down by half, with 10 so far this year. There were 21 at the same time last year.
District Attorney Lisa Smittcamp praised the police department and Fresno County Probation Department officers, among others, for the effort.
She noted the operation led officers to contact 230 registered gang members and about 150 people on probation or parole, which means many of those not arrested were complying with the law.
“We don’t often talk about or bring attention to the people who are in compliance for those (contacts),” she said. “The goal of law enforcement ... is to keep people out of the system; to keep people encouraged to abide by the law.”
This story was originally published May 23, 2023 at 11:04 AM.
