Philadelphia, PA - In response to a recent surge in localized shootings, the U.S. Marshals Service recently conducted a violent crime reduction initiative named Operation “Clipper Resolve" in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, and focused in Chester, PA. Clipper Resolve was accomplished in coordination with the Chester Police Department, PA Board of Probation and Parole, PA Attorney General’s Office, Delaware County Sheriffs Office, Delaware County Criminal Investigative Division, Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) Police, Central Delaware County Tactical Response Team, and several other agencies.
Clipper Resolve is part of a national initiative developed to reduce gang violence by targeting and arresting violent fugitives and criminal offenders who committed high-profile crimes such as homicide, felony assault and sexual assault, illegal possession of firearms, illegal drug distribution, robbery and arson. As a result of the six-day operation conducted from September 23-28, 51 arrests were made along with multiple firearms and narcotics seizures. Named in deference to Chester High School’s mascot, Clipper Resolve was a well synchronized undertaking accomplished by multiple law enforcement agencies executing high-risk feony arrest warrants and facilitationg ongoing criminal investigations. Several of the individuals arrested were known members of local gangs. Law enforcement professionals combed through 100 local, state, and federal warrants to search for the most dangerous offenders in the city of Chester.
U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, Eric Gartner, commented: “Communities plagued by violence cannot thrive. Together with the Chester Police Department, we are pleased to support the good citizens of Chester in reducing violent crime. The rapid assembly of an impressive array of law enforcement capability demonstrates our commitment to the public we serve. Clipper Resolve is just the beginning of what will be a sustained effort to reduce violence and foster a safer community. I am also pleased that our Deputy U.S. Marshals, together with our state and local law enforcement task force partners, safely removed a large number of dangerous persons from Chester without incident to the community." Marshal Gartner specially deputized 11 Delaware County Sheriff’s Deputies and Criminal Investigations Division Detectives as part of the U.S. Marshals Task Force leading this operation.
The Eastern Pennsylvania Violent Crimes Fugitive Task Force is a team of law enforcement officers led by U.S. Marshals in Philadelphia and the surrounding counties. The task force’s objective is to seek out and arrest violent crime fugitives. Membership agencies include the Philadelphia Police Department, Pennsylvania State Parole Officers, Pennsylvania State Police, Bucks County Sheriff’s, and Pennsylvania Attorney General Agents.
