MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee was one of 10 cities chosen across the country to take part in Operation North Star II.

According to a news release, the 30-day initiative resulted in the capture of more than 100 violent offenders in Milwaukee. The operation by the U.S. Marshals Service Eastern District of Wisconsin Fugitive Task Force arrested 114 individuals, clearing 213 warrants, including 11 for homicide. In addition, investigators seized 45 firearms, $27,600 in currency and nine kilograms of illegal narcotics.

Several Milwaukee law enforcement officials all agreed that this was a step in the right direction and stressed the importance of the community working together to help stop crime.'

(Courtesy of Shane T. McCoy)

“With us working together, we can see what we can do,” Milwaukee County Sheriff Denita Ball said. “We have gotten a lot of violent criminals off the streets.”

U.S. Marshal Anna Ruzinski of the Eastern District of Wisconsin also talked about a new program that will be rolled out later this year called Operation Safe Surrender.

“It would give those who are wanted on warrants an opportunity to turn themselves in in a safe environment, and this would create a safer community and be safer for law enforcement,“ Ruzinski said.