SWEEP NETS DRUGS, WEAPONS 75 OFFICERS CONDUCT 169 SEARCHES DURING 3-DAY PROGRAM.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LAKE LOS ANGELES - A three-day program targeting parolees and probationers with guns concluded Wednesday with more than 60 arrests and seizures of drugs, weapons and explosives.

The DISARM program closed out the final day of pre-dawn compliance checks Wednesday in the Antelope Valley with 19 arrests for a total of 61 arrests since Monday. Forty-two weapons, two pounds of illegal drugs and $108,535 in cash were confiscated.

With an estimated 169 searches conducted since Monday, the operation has been labeled the largest sweep the Antelope Valley has ever seen.

``This was a huge and extremely successful operation,'' said Los Angeles County sheriff's Deputy Bobby Rush. ``Probationers and parolees need to be aware that we are out there and watching them. If they violate their terms or break the law they'll go back to jail. This new program just offers another tool for us to use.''

DISARM - Developing Increased Safety through Arms Recovery and Management - is a county-funded program established by the county Board of Supervisors to get guns out of the hands of probationers and parolees. It was brought to the Antelope Valley as part of a traveling unit that moves from place to place conducting compliance checks of ex-convicts and arresting those who are not following the terms of their probation or parole.

The traveling unit, which consist of six deputy probation officers, works in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies. The team organizes large-scale sweeps, choosing its targets based on the nature of prior arrests, likelihood of recidivism and any other special considerations that might make the individual a threat.

In the three-day period, more than 75 law enforcement personnel broke into seven teams and performed 169 checks. Of those checked, more than one-third were arrested on violations of the terms of their parole or probation. Almost all of those violating their terms were charged with new counts and could face additional jail time.

``Most of these guys that get picked up will face fresh charges,'' said deputy probation officer Jack Sims. ``They violate their terms by having guns or drugs so that can be added to their time, too.''

Deputies recovered a film canister filled with an explosive and connected to a detonation device, two handguns, two shotguns, four rifles, 18 knives, eight air guns, 1,106 rounds of ammunition, and eight miscellaneous weapons, including crossbows, swords and homemade weapons. Also seized was more than two pounds of marijuana, rock cocaine and methamphetamine.

``It's great to be a part of a program like this,'' Rush said. ``If it continues to be as successful, it may serve as the model for the entire state.''

The DISARM program is being looked at by Gov. Gray Davis' office as such a model.