Pueblo police find 95% success rate with Safe Streets program
PUEBLO, Colo. (KRDO) -- Through social media Pueblo police have arrested 364 suspects through their Safe Streets program.
Tuesday morning, the agency touted its 95% success rate. In total, the program has featured 384 suspected criminals.
"We feature individuals who are wanted and who are causing the most havoc on the streets," said Captain Kenny Rider with the Pueblo Police Department.
LAST REMAINING 2018 SAFE STREETS CRIMINAL ARRESTED!
— Pueblo Police Dept (@PuebloPolice1) February 13, 2020
Thomas Gonzales was arrested in Douglas County. He had a no bond warrant for Attempted Homicide.
Out of 381 criminals featured, 361 have been arrested for a 95% arrest rate. pic.twitter.com/z0FgRlFyiU
The program began in 2016 and is in partnership with the FBI. Pueblo police typically post mugshots of criminals they believe are the most active in the community.
"Typically you never see anyone who's a first time offender. These are repeat criminals who have continuously caused problems on the street," Rider said.
He explains the department strategically chooses who they feature in the program, hoping to decrease crime with their arrest.
"One individual or one group of individuals can cause so many problems for a community and they cause a high percentage of what we deal with."
Rider says the program's success comes from the many people who share and recognize the fugitives on social media and through news media.
All criminals up to 2018 featured in the program have been caught. Now, Pueblo police are focusing on fugitives who haven't been found in 2019 and 2020.
For more like this, you won't want to miss KRDO's special segment "On the Lookout," for featured criminals at large in the community. "On the Lookout" airs every Tuesday at 6 p.m. with Krystal Story.
