Operation Safe Neighborhoods, a statewide law enforcement initiative in Michigan, has removed over 1,000 illegal firearms from the streets since 2021. The initiative brings together Michigan Department of Corrections parole and probation agents and local police to conduct enhanced compliance checks on offenders who are legally barred from possessing firearms.

Focus on High-Risk Offenders

The initiative focuses particularly on high-risk offenders, including convicted felons with histories involving semi-automatic rifles. Since its launch, authorities say more than 11,000 compliance checks have been conducted involving felony offenders. Officers have recovered not only illegal firearms, but also ammunition and illegal drugs during some of those encounters.

Michigan has approximately 32,000 people on probation and another 8,600 on parole, according to the governor’s office. More than 1,000 parole and probation agents supervise those individuals statewide. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer credited the cooperation between state and local agencies for helping remove firearms from people who are not legally permitted to possess them.

Lansing police say their own efforts have resulted in the recovery of hundreds of illegal firearms. Lansing Police Chief Robert Backus said cooperation and support from state government can make a significant difference for officers working to address gun violence.

Community advocates say taking illegal guns out of circulation can help prevent shootings before they occur. Michael McKissic, founder of the Mikey 23 Foundation, became involved in gun-violence prevention after his son was killed more than a decade ago. McKissic said removing illegal firearms is an important part of keeping neighborhoods safe.

Original reporting: WOWO News/Talk (Fort Wayne) — read the source article.