538 Citations Issued As Part Of 2-Day Operation Shield

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office released preliminary numbers on its Operation Shield program.

According to the sheriff's office, the two-day Operation Shield Program is designed to strengthen law enforcement partnerships and focuses on removing impaired drivers from the roadways, among other things.

The operation began Thursday and will wrap up Saturday morning.

Members from the Franklin County Sheriff's Office, the Ohio State Highway Patrol, the Columbus Division of Police, the U.S. Marshal's Office, the Franklin County Prosecutor's Office, judges from the Franklin County Municipal Court and the Franklin County Clerk of Courts announced that officers had conducted nearly 1,000 traffic stops.

More than 530 citations were issued. They included 21 OVI arrests, 59 driving under suspension violations and 104 safety belt citations.

Nineteen felony and 24 drug cases were initiated and two stolen vehicles and one weapon were recovered on the first day.

Four drug search warrants were also executed.

"We continue to see unprecedented success around the state when these crime reduction partnerships are created," said Col. John Born, the superintendent of the Ohio State Highway Patrol.

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