Eighty-four people with ties to Connecticut have been arrested by the FBI as part of an operation targeting people who have committed violent crimes.
“Operation No Escape,” which took place over the last three weeks, involved collaboration with the Connecticut State Police as well as local police from Wallingford, Hartford, Hamden, Bridgeport and Waterbury.
PJ O’Brien, special agent in charge of FBI New Haven, with responsibilities for the state of Connecticut, said the operation was part of a larger initiative called “summer heat,” focused on apprehending the perpetrators of violent crime across the U.S. The majority of the people arrested were U.S. citizens.
According to O’Brien, the FBI is instituting a new strategy prioritizing “combating violent crime and crushing crime throughout the country.” The announcement comes as the Trump administration seeks to reorient the bureau to prioritize investigating violent crime over things like terrorism, cybercrime and white collar fraud.
O’Brien said that after September 11, 2001, the FBI’s focus had shifted to prioritize national security. While national security continues to be important, he said, the Bureau plans to be more active in pursuing people who have committed serious crimes.
O’Brien said six of the 84 were arrested in other states or Puerto Rico — the remaining 78 were apprehended in Connecticut. While most of the people were arrested in Hartford, Bridgeport, Hamden, Wallingford and Waterbury, O’Brien said activity had taken place across the state.
Ronnell Higgins, Commissioner for the state’s Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, which oversees the State Police, said that violent crime as a whole has been decreasing across the state of Connecticut.
According to DESPP, reports of “crimes against persons,” which include murder, assault and sexual crimes, were 10% lower in the first three months of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024. Reports of rape and assault, in particular, dropped more than 25% over the same period.
Higgins said the number of crimes against persons they recorded in early 2025 was the lowest since 2021.
“Connecticut is safe and growing safer. The violent crime rate has been declining for years in our state,” Higgins said.
The Hartford Police Department recently told CT Insider that homicides in the city had dropped this year. The city has recorded seven homicides so far in 2025, compared to 13 over the same time period in 2024 and 28 between January and August of 2023.
The New Haven Independent reported earlier this month that while the number of homicides in New Haven is on par with last year, other forms of violent crime have fallen, including nonfatal shootings, robberies with firearms and reports of rape.
“Crimes against property,” which include burglary and vandalism, have also declined significantly across the state. Reports of motor vehicle theft dropped by more than 30%, a decline Higgins attributed to the work of the State Police Bureau of Special Investigations. Vandalism, burglary and robbery have also dropped more than 25%.
O’Brien said the FBI has been focused on nationwide initiatives to combat crimes against children and gang activity. He said the bureau also plans to create a “10 Most Wanted List” for the state of Connecticut, modeled after the national Most Wanted List. The list is expected to be released this fall.