READING: Tuesday, Reading Police Department Chief Richard Tornielli, issued the following statement
updating the latest results of the anti-criminality initiative Operation Ceasefire:
“On Thursday, July 8, 2021, a large-scale enforcement detail was conducted in the City of Reading as a continuation of the Reading Police Department’s Operation Ceasefire. Operation Ceasefire was launched in
February 2021 as an effort to reduce gun violence in the City of Reading. Since its inception, Operation Ceasefire has resulted in a 33% reduction in shooting incidents compared to the previous year.
The detail on July 8th consisted of 80 personnel from multiple agencies, including the Reading Police Department, Berks County District Attorney’s Office Drug Task Force, Berks County Adult and Juvenile Probation, the Berks County Sheriff’s Department, the Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania State Parole and the FBI Lehigh Valley Violent Gang Task Force.
Personnel assigned to the detail conducted multiple operations that targeted individuals and locations
related to recent acts of gun violence that resulted in the following:
• Four new misdemeanors and three new felony arrests were initiated.
• 17 probation/parole violations and bench warrants were served.
• 23 traffic stops were conducted, which resulted in the issuance of 8 traffic citations.
• Four firearms were recovered, including one during a neighborhood foot patrol.
Additionally, while conducting operations at a residence in the 800 block of North 12th Street, Berks County Probation Officers encountered a male that was in possession of small amounts of heroin, fentanyl, and a firearm.
That individual, Juan Jose Díaz, 49 years old, was charged with possession of heroin, fentanyl, and persons not to possess firearms.
The Reading Police Department would like to thank our partner law enforcement agencies that continue to support Operation Cease Fire and other crime reduction initiatives in the City of Reading. Through these collaborations and community engagement, we will continue to make our streets and neighborhoods safer.”
