"APD's targeted enforcement to get more guns and drugs off of our streets has already made Akron a safer city," said Mayor Don Plusquellic. "In just a couple of months, they've made a tremendous difference; our residents are taking notice and letting us know they appreciate our police department's serious dedication to this program."

APD Chief Michael Matulavich cited 11 operations that have been conducted thus far in Akron's targeted Gun Violence Reduction program, initiated in August when Plusquellic directed $200,000 to cover the cost of police overtime to ensure the program's viability. The most recent was last night.

"So far," said Matulavich, "we have expended a little more than $45,000 of that funding and have made a substantial dent in weapon inventory. That's roughly a fifth of the dollars we have to devote to this sweep and we've already run 11 operations."

With assistance from the U.S. Marshall's Office and its Northern Ohio Violent Fugitive Task Force, the Justice Department and its Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Summit County Sheriff, officers have:

Seized: 1 assault rifle, two shotguns, 11 hand guns, 69 Ecstasy tablets, 95 grams of crack cocaine, 6 grams of cocaine, 561 grams of marijuana, $20,600 cash

Arrested: 191 suspects (81 felony arrests) totaling 348 criminal charges

Two suspects have already been indicted by a federal grand jury on weapons charges.

Chief Matulavich promises the sweeps will be ongoing, even after special funding expires.