MPD, US Marshals targeted effort nets more than 250 violent fugitives in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The U.S Marshals Service of the Eastern District of Wisconsin and Milwaukee police announced 255 violent fugitives were arrested and over 100 illegal guns were confiscated in Milwaukee between June and August.

This comes after a three-month collaboration between the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force and MPD for the latest phase of Operation North Star.

Operation North Star is a targeted effort to locate and arrest violent offenders. Milwaukee is among 20 cities involved in Operation North Star.

"When you have that type of effort, when you have a true collaborative effort, these are the results," said Milwaukee Police Chief Jeffrey Norman.

Along with the number of arrests and confiscated guns during Operation North Star III, 417 warrants were cleared including 37 for homicides.

Nationwide, the operation arrested 4,455 criminals and seized over 550 guns. Milwaukee accounted for 1/5 of the number of guns confiscated.

"We are looking at those who have the unfortunate history, those who have the unfortunate intel of those behaviors, and we're utilizing great work between the local and federal level to make an impact," said Chief Norman.

Milwaukee joined the operation on its second and third phases. The second phase was in January of 2023. It was noted then that 144 criminals were arrested, and 213 warrants were cleared.

U.S. Marshal Anna Ruzinski credits her fugitive task for going the extra mile.

"They don't just go in and find a body and take that body out. What they do is they look through the home and when they see evidence of illegal activities, they will freeze that house and obtain a search warrant," said Ruzinski.

The U.S. Marshals Service Eastern District of Wisconsin plans to do another targeted effort in the summer of 2024.