City News

TUSCALOOSA, AL - On top of preparing for the largest regular-season college football game of the year and coordinating a presidential visit, the Tuscaloosa Police Department, along with local and federal partners, conducted a three-day operation that targeted repeat active and violent offenders.
 
“Studies have shown that the majority of serious crimes are committed by a small percentage of criminals. In order to protect our communities it is essential that we form these alliances and work as a team with the community and use every tool at our disposal to ensure that we provide the Police services our citizens deserve,” said Tuscaloosa Police Chief, Mitt Tubbs.
 
In conjunction with local and federal law enforcement and prosecution teams, the Repeat Offender Unit aggressively investigated known violent offenders within Tuscaloosa County, removed them from the community and sought the most aggressive prosecution available. The primary targets of this initiative were offenders who committed crimes using guns and other habitual offenders.
 
“As with most cities in Alabama, we face the challenge of arresting and re-arresting the same individuals. This dynamic requires the City to exercise resolve, innovation and collaboration,” said Tuscaloosa Mayor, Walt Maddox. “To that end, I am extremely proud of TPD’s partnership with federal and local law enforcement to make Tuscaloosa’s neighborhoods safer and send a message we are going to leverage every available resource to protect our community.”
 
During the search, 40 arrests were made totaling 140 total charges. Of those 140 charges, 57 were outstanding felony warrants, 39 were new felony charges, 28 were misdemeanor arrest, 16 were failure-to-appear violations, and 6 firearms were recovered.
 
Of the warrants served, four were robbery in the first degree, one was an arson in the first degree, two were rape in the first degree, and 18 were unlawful breaking entering where several firearms were stolen.
 
The agencies and divisions that participated in the roundup last week are as follows; The Repeat Offender Unit, Cyber Intelligence Unit, Tuscaloosa Police Department, Special Response Team, West Alabama Narcotics Task Force, U.S. Marshall Service, ATF, FBI, Probation and Parole, and Tuscaloosa County Sheriff’s Office.