A recent federal law enforcement effort in the Chicago area, dubbed “Operation New Dawn,” has resulted in the rescue of 24 missing children and the arrest of over 300 individuals. The 60-day operation, which began in May, focused on cracking down on violent crime, including robbery, kidnapping, firearm offenses, and fentanyl trafficking.

Operation New Dawn

The operation was unique in that it utilized a “badgeless” approach, with 11 federal departments working together as a single, unified force under the U.S. flag. The goal was to eliminate bureaucratic barriers and coordinate in real-time to address violent crime across the Chicago and Rockford regions.

Andrew S. Boutros, the U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, noted that the timing of the effort was meant to coincide with the nation’s 250th birthday. “It is my view that to combat violence, federal law enforcement must move at the speed of violence,” Boutros said. “The remarkable success of Operation New Dawn resoundingly proves that point. Chicago’s federal anti-violence apparatus united under one banner—the United States flag and not the shield, badge, banner, or logo of any agency—to make their presence felt on the streets of Chicago and make it known that they are a force to be reckoned with in the battle against violence.”

The operation involved a wide coalition of agencies, including the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Great Lakes Regional Fugitive Task Force, the IRS Criminal Investigation division, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The Chicago Police Department also provided sustained support throughout the period.

The results of the initiative include 179 defendants charged in 140 new criminal cases and 305 fugitives taken into custody. Additionally, authorities successfully located 24 children, many of whom had been kidnapped, and returned them to safety.

Original reporting: Tampa Free Press — read the source article.