Operation Zero Tolerance

Operation Zero Tolerance is a Birmingham Police Department campaign initiated by Chief A. C. Roper on January 17, 2008. It is a spin-off from Operation Taking It to the Streets, conducted periodically since 2006 by officers from the department's vice and narcotics unit. The newer program also involves officers from the detective, patrol and tactical units. The strategy is intended to give the police a more visible presence and to uncover felony violations by cracking down on more minor criminal activity.

The first major sweep was conducted over 88 hours during 11 days between January 17 and January 30, 2008. As many as 50 officers saturated a target precinct for two to four days making arrests. In total, police made 679 arrests, of which 148 were for felony charges. In addition, 402 citations were issued, 21 guns siezed, and 114 vehicles towed.

A second sweep took place on February 15-16 and 21-22 during which 163 arrests were made, of which 40 were for felonies. Of the felony charges, more than half were for unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Over half of the misdemeanor arrests were for "fine forfeiture" or "payment writ". In addition to the arrests officers seized 15 weapons, issued 95 citations and towed 33 vehicles.

Another sweep was undertaken on March 13 in the North Precinct with 51 arrests, of which 17 were for felony charges. Officers seized one weapon, towed 9 vehicles and issued 45 citations. A sweep through the South precinct on March 19 resulted on 42 arrests, of which 10 were for felonies. 3 guns and 15 vehicles were seized along with crack and powder cocaine. 17 tickets were issued. An East precinct sweep on March 28 netted 47 arrests, of which 15 were for felonies (9 for drug possession, 4 for marijuana possession and 2 for failure to appear). Officers also wrote 28 citations.

Noting a sharp reduction in trauma cases being dispatched through Birmingham Regional Emergency Medical Services System in the spring of 2008, executive director Joe Acker credited Birmingham's policing for reducing violent activity on the streets. The operation will continue periodically as needed to suppress open criminal activity on the streets.

References

• Robinson, Carol (February 1, 2008) "Birmingham police arrest hundreds in crusade to thwart criminals." Birmingham News
• Robinson, Carol (February 25, 2008) "Birmingham police arrest 163 in Operation Zero Tolerance, a series of ongoing street sweeps aimed at curbing crime." Birmingham News
• Robinson, Carol (March 14, 2008) "Birmingham police, others make 51 more arrests in street sweep." Birmingham News
• Robinson, Carol (March 16, 2008) "Number of Birmingham-area trauma patients drops sharply as police sweeps rise." Birmingham News
• Robinson, Carol (March 20, 2008) "42 arrested in latest Birmingham street sweeps." Birmingham News
• Gray, Jeremy (March 31, 2008) "Latest Zero Tolerance tallies released." Birmingham News