Operation FALCON is being trumpeted as a hugely successful law enforcement project that swooped down and nabbed 10,000 fugitives across the country this week. Sixty-three alleged fugitives from Colorado were arrested as part of the sweep. 9 News got to ride along with the cops. But wasn’t it all a big publicity stunt? The LA Times reports:

In an operation that was equal parts police work, public relations and lobbying, the U.S. Justice Department said Thursday that it had conducted an unusual 168-hour sweep with state and local authorities that yielded the arrest of more than 10,000 felons wanted for murder, rape, kidnapping, robbery and drug offenses. The huge dragnet, which the government said it orchestrated to coincide with “National Crime Victims’ Rights Week”, involved more than 3,100 law-enforcement officers across the country, and a cross-section of agents from 25 federal agencies, led by the U.S. Marshals Service.

It also coincided with Crime Victims Rights Week and they invited the cameras to ride along for the day. What more do you need to know? Do you really believe the whereabouts of these fugitives weren’t known last week or last month? Shouldn’t violent criminals be picked up the minute their whereabouts are known instead of at most opportune sound-bite moment?