MINNEAPOLIS — Minneapolis police say the third annual Operation Safe Summer more illegal weapons taken off the streets than in any previous year.
Operation Safe Summer is a period of collaboration between agencies to tackle crime in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara says police arrested 98 people and seized 45 guns from the streets between July 29 and August 3, the most guns ever seized during one of these operations.
“The proliferation of illegal guns and narcotics is an ongoing problem for the city of Minneapolis. I am incredibly proud of the work our officers and all of our partner organizations are doing to make a lasting impact on gun violence and narcotics activity in the city,” O’Hara said.
During the previous two campaigns, 38 illegal firearms were seized in both years. MPD says 100 arrests were made during Operation Safe Summer in 2023, and 97 arrests were made in 2022.
This year, detectives also seized more than 5 pounds of narcotics, 1,200 fentanyl pills and $10,000.
Minneapolis police worked with several law enforcement partners, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and more, to focus on hot spots in the city and the violent criminals who operate there.
Operation Safe Summer started a little later this year. It was supposed to start the day Minneapolis police officer Jamal Mitchell was killed in the line of duty.
WCCO Staff
