Killeen Police Department Participates in Operation First Strike

A large-scale, three-day gang enforcement operation labeled “Operation First Strike,” wrapped up on Friday, April 19, 2019, resulting in 37 arrests of alleged violent offenders and fugitives.

Led by the U.S. Marshals Lone Star Fugitive Task Force, Texas Department of Public Safety, the Killeen Police Department, and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, multiple federal, state and local law enforcement agencies concentrated their efforts and focus April 17 thru 19, 2019 on known gang members in the Killeen – Bell County area. Out of the total arrests, 13 were gang members or associates.

Operation First Strike, which was modeled after the U.S. Marshals Service’s immediate impact National fugitive initiative known as Operation Washout, was deployed to bring the Killeen community immediate relief from violent gang-related crime.  The collaborative law enforcement effort was accomplished by targeting and arresting violent fugitives who were wanted by authorities for high-profile crimes such as homicide, felony assault and sexual assault, illegal possession of firearms, illegal drug distribution, robbery and arson.

The operation was also meant to send a message to gang members preying on the citizens of Killeen and Bell County — operations like First Strike will continue and the violence in Killeen, Bell County and the Western District of Texas will continue to be addressed.

The Killeen Police Department would like to thank the following agencies for their participation in this operation; U.S. Marshals Service, Texas Department of Public Safety, Waco Police Department, McLennan County Sheriff’s Office, Bell County Sheriff’s Department, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco Firearms and Explosives, the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Ofelia Miramontez
Public Affairs
Killeen Police Department