Operation Street Sweep: Success

More than a dozen supervised offenders were arrested Tuesday outside the San Bernardino County Probation Central Adult Services building during Operation Street Sweep. Probation Officers with the department’s DUI Unit, assisted by San Bernardino Police Department Motor Units, conducted the operation that targeted probationers who had been placed on felony probation for multiple or serious convictions of driving under the influence. The four hour operation, resulted in 13 arrests, 13 vehicle impounds and two citations. Of the 116 probationers who reported to the probation office in San Bernardino as directed, about 80 had suspended or revoked licenses. Probation Officers were looking for DUI probationers who illegally operated their vehicles by driving them to or from their probation appointment. The probationers were directed to come to the office on Arrowhead for a routine meeting to update their records. But a large amount of those probationers, whose licenses had previously been suspended or revoked, or who had court ordered terms restricting their ability to drive, attempted to leave in their vehicles. Suspecting this conduct might occur, Probation Officers teamed with San Bernardino Police Officers who stopped the vehicles of those offenders. Drivers were arrested upon leaving the county parking lots. “It takes enforcement like this to wake them up,” said Miguel Pares, a probation officer who helped put the operation together. The Probation DUI Unit strives to improve safety in the community. The Probation Department does this through enforcement actions like this operation, but also offers an array of substance abuse programs that help offenders attain sobriety and successfully complete probation. “The goal of the operation is to get the word out and deter unlicensed drivers from getting behind the wheel,” said Supervising Probation Officer Tom Shiley. “The operation was a success and we will continue to conduct operations in the future that ensure compliance with probation terms and conditions.”