The Kansas Office of Attorney General, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, and Kansas Department of Corrections (KDOC) last week partnered with local and federal authorities on Operation Teamwork, a strategic plan to track down absconders and others wanted by the KDOC.
Between September 24 and September 28, 2007, Operation Teamwork focused on the major metropolitan areas of Kansas City, Topeka and Wichita. The partners and law enforcement agents arrested a total of 70 individuals for parole violations, outstanding warrants and in some cases, new offenses.
“By working together, the Attorney General’s Office, KBI, KDOC and local law enforcement can efficiently pool resources and accomplish so much more,” Attorney General Morrison said. “Not only can we support each other with information sharing and intelligence, we can supplement manpower to better crack down on dangerous offenders.”
This partnership represents an ongoing cooperative relationship among Kansas law enforcement offices that is intended to combine and direct resources towards the common goal of public safety.
“Each agency shares the same goal of protecting Kansans from criminals,” KBI Director Bob Blecha said. “We can accomplish that goal more effectively and efficiently if we share resources and work together.”
Of the 70 arrests made, some included city and county warrants, parole and probation violations, and new felony charges. Some of the new crimes range from domestic battery to possession of cocaine to criminal threat. The collaboration is ongoing and will continue to develop and expand over time.
As Secretary of Corrections Roger Werholtz noted, "Achieving the objective of public safety requires teamwork. The Kansas Department of Corrections is fortunate to work with law enforcement colleagues that embrace that philosophy. Their willingness to collaborate for the common good benefits Kansas communities.”
For more information about the Kansas Attorney General’s Office, please visit their Web site at: http://www.ksag.org
To view the KBI’s Web site, visit: http://www.accesskansas.org/kbi/
For the Kansas Department of Corrections, visit: http://www.dc.state.ks.us/