By Cheryl Brown

Dangerous criminals are more likely than ever to be caught and sent to jail for a very long time with the reported success of the San Bernardino Violent Crime Impact Team (VCIT). The San Bernardino team ranks third in the nation out of 31 other cities. This week the team held a news conference with the backdrop of a weapons display to report their successes after 12 months. San Bernardino Chief of Police Michael Billdt notes that the weapons complete with silencers were taken from the bad guys.

John Torres ATF said no parole for you if you are caught with one of these weapons. They carry a mandatory 5 year sentence and 10 years if it has a silencer. In the rear are Chief Michael Billdt, Steven Azzam, DEA, and Frank Johnston ICE.

Chief Michael Billdt said they have been able to trace the weapons back to Arizona; one such weapon nearly severed a policeman's hand in Los Angeles.

"When we investigated the weapon that was in our evidence lockup we traced it to a cousin in Arizona and we were able to solve the case," he reported.

Billdt said there is still work to do but with the team that includes John Torres of the Los Angeles Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, (ATF), U.S. Attorney Thomas O'Brien, District Attorney Mike Ramos, Joe Louis, Deputy U.S. Marshal, Immigration and Custom's Enforcement, Frank Johnston and Chris Carter, Steven Azzam, Special Agent in Charge of Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), located in Riverside and Congressman Joe Baca all of the pieces have come together. Baca added the ever so important funding package.

"With this innovative technology, analytical investigative resources, as well as an integrated federal, state and local law enforcement strategy to identify, disrupt, arrest and prosecute the most violent criminals, robberies are down 40% in San Bernardino," said Billdt. Billdt explained that much of the success is in the suppression, intervention and prevention model of the Operation Phoenix program.

Congressman Joe Baca shows the dangerous Walter PPK weapon in the display and says it reminds him of the James Bond gun. He also wants citizens to know it isn't a movie prop.

O'Brien said he wants to clean the gangs and crooks and protect citizens from being victims.

Ramos agreed. He said the team makes it easier because of the added resources. It helps him in court.

Torres warns if you have a weapon you go to jail for 5 years, if it has a silencer you go for 10 years no chance of parole. He reports 215 arrests and 5 dangerous fugitives have been caught. He says citizens should turn in people with these firearms and said call 1-800 ATFGUNS.

"Turn them in," he said emphatically.