15 Arrests in 16 Days: Broome County Sheriff Details Operation Results

The Broome County Sheriff’s Office says a 16-day public safety initiative carried out across the county in September led to 115 arrests, along with 58 traffic violations.

Sheriff Fred Akshar announced the results of what the department calls “Operation Relentless Pursuit” on Thursday, October 8. The operation involved the Sheriff’s Office Strategic Response Group, detectives, road patrol deputies, and the warrants division.

The focus was on high-crime areas and people with outstanding warrants, along with roads and neighborhoods where deputies were seeing ongoing safety concerns.

Broome County Sheriff’s Operation Results in 115 Arrests

According to the Sheriff’s Office announcement, the 115 arrests included arrests on criminal charges and outstanding warrants. The department reported 61 warrant arrests, including 27 bench warrants issued when someone who has already been charged does not appear in court or ignores a court order.

The operation also resulted in 39 narcotics arrests, including three felony narcotics arrests, eight vehicle and traffic arrests, and seven other Penal Law arrests.

Deputies made 114 traffic stops and issued 58 traffic violations during the operation, the release said.

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How Broome County’s Strategic Response Group Targets Crime

The Sheriff’s Office says its Strategic Response Group uses statistical and crime-mapping data from the Southern Tier Crime Analysis Center, along with community input and tips, to identify recurring concerns and hot spots across Broome County.

Those concerns can include repeat speeding complaints, suspected narcotics activity, persistent calls for service, property crime prevention, and areas experiencing gun or gang-related violence.

The Strategic Response Group was activated in June 2024. Since then, the Sheriff’s Office says the team has made more than 700 arrests, conducted more than 1,200 traffic stops, and issued more than 1,000 traffic violations across Broome County.

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Broome County Deputies Seize Five Illegal E-Dirt Bikes

The release also included an update on enforcement involving illegal e-bikes, e-scooters, dirt bikes, and e-motorcycles.

The Sheriff’s Office says it received dozens of complaints during the summer from Town of Union residents and others around Broome County about young riders operating bikes illegally on public roads, sidewalks, and railroad tracks. The department said some complaints involved groups of dozens of riders.

Deputies first focused on education and warnings. Over the past month, they documented more than 24 interactions with juveniles operating e-scooters, e-dirt bikes, or e-bicycles and contacted parents to pick up both the child and the bike, according to the release.

The Sheriff’s Office says it seized five e-dirt bikes or mini-bikes over the past month after repeated reports of violations and noncompliance.