Police throughout Somerset County fanned out Thursday, making arrests in several towns as part of the county’s Operation Long Arm program.
The program focuses on bail and probation checks, warrant arrests and keeping track of registered sex offenders.
Police were out well into the night Thursday in Pittsfield, Skowhegan, Fairfield, Cornville, Madison and Hartland.
The operation began about 1 p.m. in Pittsfield and continued until after 10 p.m. The operation’s final phase will include police visits in outlying areas of Somerset County.
It is the second phase of the program, which began last month.
Law enforcement and probation officers met over the previous four months to plan an operation that would have maximum effect in Somerset County.
In the first phase, every law enforcement agency in Somerset County committed resources to the operation and each town council or board of selectmen and community was contacted and they were told the operation would be conducted sometime during the summer months.
The program is based on previous operations in southern and central Maine in which agencies have joined efforts, according to Lt. Mark Brooks, commander of State Police Troop C barracks in Skowhegan.
By combining efforts in Somerset County, more than 150 contacts were made, yielding 22 arrests in Pittsfield, Fairfield, Madison and Skowhegan. All those arrested were taken to the Somerset County Jail, according to a news release Friday from Brooks.
During the planning phase, the officers focused on ensuring contact could be made with as many people as possible who are on probation, out on bail, have a current warrant or are registered sex offenders.
The agencies participation in the operation were the Pittsfield, Skowhegan, Fairfield and Madison police departments; the Somerset County Sheriff’s Office; Maine State Police; state probation and parole officers; Maine State Prison, Department of Corrections; the Maine Warden Service; U.S. marshals; the Maine Drug Enforcement Agency; Somerset County Communications; and Somerset County Transport and Corrections.
Doug Harlow — 612-2367
Twitter: @Doug_Harlow
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