Violent criminals are not the only threat to neighborhoods, Miami police say. Prostitutes, drug users, and even motorists who disobey the rules of the road can jeopardize the safety of residents. The Miami Herald says that's why Miami police cast a broad net with Operation Resilience, a citywide crackdown that launched in December 2011 and concluded in November with more than 1,000 arrests made for crimes ranging from suspected murder and drug trafficking to prostitution and robbery.
Maj. David Magnusson, commander of tactical operations, said the broad sweep targeted violent crime. “Homicides are lower at the same point now than they were last year,'' he said, “and [the numbers of] people shot are lower.'' Tapping officers from several divisions — including gang units, narcotics investigators, robbery detectives and traffic cops — Operation Resilience flooded the city's streets with police during crackdowns, Magnusson said. Police conducted 12 separate sweeps over the year with each operation taking place over two, nonconsecutive days. While the primary mission was to reduce drug-related violent crime, officers also targeted “quality of life'' crimes such as public intoxication, indecent exposure, gambling, prostitution and traffic infractions. “We have found, and there is scientific proof, if you let these things go on unchecked, it just gives that atmosphere that anything goes,'' he said, “and after a while anything does go.''