Syracuse, NY -- Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler thanked law enforcement, judges, community leaders and pastors Monday morning for the successful completion of Operation Safe Surrender over the weekend. In two days, 305 people turned themselves into authorities on warrants ranging from misdemeanor charges to violations of probation, Fowler said. In exchange, judges offered the offenders consideration on bail...
Syracuse, NY -- Syracuse Police Chief Frank Fowler thanked law enforcement, judges, community leaders and pastors Monday morning for the successful completion of Operation Safe Surrender over the weekend.
In two days, 305 people turned themselves into authorities on warrants ranging from misdemeanor charges to violations of probation, Fowler said. In exchange, judges offered the offenders consideration on bail and only four were sent to jail.
“I saw a lot of smiling faces over that two-day period,” the chief said, acknowledging two city judges, the first chief assistant district attorney, the county sheriff and other members of law enforcement and community leaders.
Fowler said the effort of all those involved led to the large response Friday and Saturday. By comparison, a similar four-day effort in Rochester netted about 200 people, Fowler said.
Fowler said the effort will give officers more time to chase nearly 6,000 other outstanding warrants in the county. Of those, only about 300 stem from felony charges. The rest are for people much like those who turned themselves in.
The chief had a stern message for those who didn’t participate.
“Don’t get comfortable, because we’re coming to get you,” Fowler said. “Our hands are a little freer than they were before, so we can pay some special attention to you. You can be proactive in this, and...get this taken care of in advance of us coming out to knock on your door, coming to your place of employment, and finding you wherever you may be at.”
He urged people with outstanding warrants to go the website, www.syracusepolice.org, and click on the “Active Warrants” page. There, people can find out how to turn yourself into police on their own terms.