Florida Sheriffs Target Domestic Violence
TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami) – Domestic violence was the target of a month-long effort by the Florida Sheriffs Task Force (FSTF) called Operation Safe Families, aimed at protecting youth and families in Florida.
The four-week long operation targeted individuals with outstanding warrants for domestic violence and those who've failed to pay child support. It resulted in 5,544 arrests across 33 counties.
"Domestic violence impacts the lives of countless families and innocent children. Besides the immediate physical pain and emotional trauma often caused by domestic violence, I am gravely concerned about this cyclical behavior that harms the growth and development of the next generation—our children," said FSTF Chair and Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri.
The operations results include:
• 2,587 arrests for domestic violence
• 772 writs of bodily attachment for non-support served
• 89 children taken into protective custody
In the 2012, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) noted that 108,046 domestic violence offenses were reported to law enforcement agencies and 202 individuals died as a result of domestic violence. This represents approximately 20 percent of all homicides in Florida. Operation Safe Families aimed to track down individuals that have endangered the lives of their children and families and bring them to justice.
"When the safety of Florida's citizens is threatened, our Sheriffs have developed the resources to act swiftly and strategically to address the issue at hand," said Florida Sheriffs Association President and Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
The Florida Sheriffs Task Force pools resources from the 67 Sheriffs' Offices to address specific areas of concern.
