AURORA, Colo. (KDVR) — With the help of federal law enforcement partners like the Drug Enforcement Administration and U.S. Marshals, Aurora Police was able to put 116 violent criminals behind bars in the span of more than a week.
Aurora Chief of Police Vanessa Wilson announced the results Wednesday. The operation arrested 116 criminals with outstanding warrants over 10 days, with law enforcement working more than 8,000 hours on the operation, seizing three stolen vehicles and nine firearms.
About 60 to 70 Aurora police officers were involved in Operation Restore every day, along with 30 to 40 U.S. Marshals and members of other agencies.
“This is a successful story for the City of Aurora,” Wilson said. “I wanted to show what can be done when we have great partners. It’s something this community can feel good about.”
The operation initially had 130 targets that were either living in Aurora, or had committed their crimes in the city. Division Chief for Aurora Police Metro Division Terry Brown said they’re still actively pursuing the remaining targets.
Two people were arrested on warrants for murder, five people for attempted murder, 11 people for sex crimes. Of those 11, nine people arrested on sex crimes victimized children, according to Brown.
“These criminals were victimizing our children,” Wilson said. “They were taking lives, and they were taking livelihoods.”
One of the criminals was a major drug trafficker, and a member of an international drug operation. That criminal distributed methamphetamine and thousands of counterfeit oxycontin pills laced with fentanyl across the Denver metro.
D.E.A. Assistant Special Agent David Olesky, U.S. Marshal David A. Weaver and 18th Judicial District Attorney John Kellner joined Wilson and outlined the results of their push to get at-large threats to the community behind bars.
