California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced the results of a 5-day sweep led by the California Department of Justice, or DOJ, that targeted 51 prohibited persons. The state arrested 13 people and seized 114 firearms and 49,148 rounds of ammunition during the sweep.
The sweep was focused on Los Angeles County using California’s Armed and Prohibited Persons System, or APPS.
“California’s Armed and Prohibited Persons System is a critical tool that makes the work of cracking down on illegal gun ownership and possession possible,” said Bonta. “Last week, using APPS and working together with our law enforcement partners in Southern California, our teams removed 114 firearms from individuals who are no longer legally allowed to own or possess firearms or ammunition.”
“Collaborative efforts like these increase our success in taking guns out of potentially dangerous hands, reducing gun violence, and keeping our neighborhoods safe,” said Bonta.
“A great display of local and state partners coordinating and cooperating to ensure prohibited persons aren’t in possession of firearms,” said LAPD Chief Michel Moore. “The LAPD supports and maintains a relationship with our local partners as well as California DOJ to accomplish this mission on a daily basis.”
The California DOJ’s Bureau of Firearms, or BOF, worked with officers representing the Azusa Police Department, the Los Angeles Police Department, the LAPD, the Pasadena Police Department, the Pomona Police Department, the Los Angeles County Probation Department, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
“We are thankful to all the partner agencies of the operation and proud to have been a part of getting dangerous guns off the streets,” said Los Angeles County Probation Chief Deputy Karen Fletcher. “Working together, we helped make Los Angeles safer thanks to all those who put their lives on the line daily and the hard-working members of our probation team.”
“Pasadena Police Department is excited about partnering with the California Department of Justice in an effort to stop gun violence,” said Interim Pasadena Police Chief Cheryl Moody. “This collaboration will certainly benefit those communities most impacted by individuals who illegally possess or use firearms.”
Following leads from 439 cases, agents and officers seized 55 handguns, 19 rifles, 15 shotguns, 17 “assault weapons” and eight “ghost guns” in addition to ammunition and magazines. The sweep follows an earlier operation in the Bay Area that netted 30 firearms, resulting in eight arrests.