March 19, 2008
Mayor Phil Gordon
Police Disrupt Gang in "Operation Sidewinder"
Last year, on May 22nd, a 14 year old boy was shot and killed -- just walking near his own neighborhood. An innocent young man, our very hope for the future was violently taken from his family and his community in a single tragic moment. I have an 8 year old son and I can't even begin to imagine what that would be like for a parent to deal with. The fact is, no parent should ever have to deal with that.
So I made a commitment to this community and to myself that together with the Chief, the City Council, and the City Manager we would come into his neighborhood, to weed out the bad, and to seed in the good. To track and arrest the criminals. To revitalize the neighborhood.
Today, we want everyone to know we are keeping that commitment to this neighborhood but will not stop with this neighborhood.
Once again, we have come together in a large and effective public safety partnership that shows how much can be accomplished when we all work together.
We've taken several big steps here - at least 42 big steps - and we're renewing our promise to make sure that Public Safety is ALWAYS our number one priority.
The Operation you'll be hearing about today has completely disrupted criminal activity in several neighborhoods. The people whose faces you see on this board, to a very large degree, controlled, terrorized and victimized these neighborhoods. They scared people into keeping quiet.
Not any more. The bad guys are going away -- 42 people are being charged with 562 counts -- and the neighbors have their neighborhoods back.
Our goal has been to reduce the violence in our city. And we have !
Let me conclude by saying this is a very good day for Phoenix, the Valley and the State -- and I thank all the agencies who continue to work together to keep us all safer -- especially: The Phoenix Police Department, the Department of Public Safety, the FBI and the Maricopa County Attorney's office.
Thank you all very much.