During the months of June and July, The Pomona Police Departments Major Crimes Task Force organized a special operation that provided extra enforcement along the East Holt Ave corridor. The purpose of this enforcement was to address ALL criminal activity observed, reduce calls for service, improve the quality of life for residents, and help to revitalize business operations.
The East Holt Ave corridor is now commonly referred to by criminal elements as “The Blade.” “The Blade” extends along the Holt Ave corridor from Garey Ave. to Mills Ave. This operation appropriately titled operation “Dull Blade” was focused on jointly enforcing all laws on or near the East Holt Ave. corridor. Some of violations included: drinking alcohol in public, public intoxication, illegal possession of shopping carts, smoking in the parks, loitering in the parks after hours, trespassing, traffic laws, prostitution, possession of narcotics, and selling narcotics.
Due to the extent and variety of violations believed to be occurring in the corridor, the department utilized every resource possible to attack the problem, and to successfully arrest and prosecute the associated offenders. To carry out such a huge effort, assistance was sought from the following: The Pomona Police Department’s Traffic Bureau, Patrol Division, Crime Prevention Unit, K9 Unit, Detective Bureau, AB 109 Team, City of Pomona Code Enforcement team, and various outside agencies, including FBI’s Innocence Lost Task Force, LA County Probation, LA County DA’s office, San Bernardino PD, West Covina PD, Claremont PD, Arcadia PD, The Department of Children’s Services and the non-profit organization The Dream Center. We appreciate all the joint collaboration, without which this detail could not have been as effective.
The two month operation resulted in 193 arrests, 203 citations, and 69 field interview cards. Of the 193 arrests made, 70 were for prostitution related offenses, 5 were for documented gang members who possessed firearms, and 3 suspects were arrested for attempted murder.
The Pomona Police Department will continue to implement these types of zero tolerance operations to help improve the quality of life for the citizens of Pomona. The Major Crimes Task Force investigates crimes related to gang violence, narcotics, and prostitution. Anyone with information is encouraged to call the Pomona Police Department at (909)622-1241. For anyone willing to provide information anonymously can contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS or WE-TIP at 1 800 782-7463.
