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KCK police target gangs, drugs in special two-month operation

Operation Lateral Storm-2
Posted at 8:45 PM, May 13, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-13 23:10:21-04

KANSAS CITY, Kan. — Kansas City, Kansas Police Chief Terry Zeigler on Monday called a special two-month operation targeting gangs and drugs a "success," saying that law enforcement officers arrested 219 people and cleared 583 warrants.

The initiative, called Operation Lateral Storm, included law enforcement officials from local, state and federal agencies.

Police said it resulted in more than 37 pounds of narcotics confiscated and 38 weapons seized.

Operation Lateral Storm-1
Kansas City, Kansas police say a two-month initiative called Operation Lateral Storm resulted in more than 37 pounds of narcotics confiscated and 38 weapons seized.

"I guess the message to criminals are, 'Get out of our city. Don't care where you go, just don't come to KCK,'" Zeigler said at a news conference.

41 Action News joined police on a similar operation last year, which resulted in the arrests of 200 people, took 63 guns off the street and confiscated more than 40 pounds of drugs.

In the months following, Paul Soptick said he could see a change in those neighborhoods.

"Less graffiti," he said. "We saw more people in the parks here, more people driving in the street rather than racing in the street."

Soptick said he is hopeful this operation will yield similar results.

According to crime statistics provided by KCKPD, the initiatives have been successful. During the 60-day period, violent crimes and property crimes in the targeted area dropped.

The largest areas targeted included Seventh to 18th streets and Pacific to Grandview avenues.

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