Over a weeklong spree from October 20 through October 26, law enforcement authorities in San Bernardino County took to the streets for what was dubbed "Operation Consequences," a targeted crime suppression initiative. The action, spanning various neighborhoods from Elk Street in Highland to Kiowa Road in Apple Valley, saw the combined effort of the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department’s Gangs/Narcotics Division, patrol stations, and several partnering agencies.
In a concerted push to address gang-related activities and illegal armament, the operation resulted in the interaction with seven known gang members and individuals barred from firearm possession. Funding for these initiatives came courtesy of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors, aiming to address quality-of-life issues for the county's communities. Serving five search warrants, investigators managed to make 10 felony arrests, plus one misdemeanor collar, "one of which was for human trafficking," according to a dispatch from the Sheriff-Coroner's office.
Proactive patrols by the San Bernardino Movement Against Street Hoodlums (SMASH) Street Enforcement Team (SET) were also part of the effort, maintaining a visible presence in localities like Phelan and Redlands. The operation, according to a Sheriff’s department release, is a part of a larger campaign that will span several months, targeting violent crime and the illegal arms trade within the High Desert and the sheriff’s jurisdiction surrounding San Bernardino.
The multipronged enforcement approach brings together resources from various divisions and nearby law enforcement departments, including the CHP, San Bernardino Police Department, County Probation, and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations. This interagency collaboration, as highlighted by Sheriff-Coroner Shannon D. Dicus in a briefing to the public, seeks to "curb violent crime, disrupt and dismantle targeted criminal street gangs, and locate and arrest criminals who are illegally possessing, manufacturing, and trafficking firearms." Yet, Dicus did not provide details on the specific strategies that would be employed in the upcoming phases of Operation Consequences.
