Beginning in 2002, Congress appropriated funds to establish regional task forces that focus on fugitives accused of violent crimes. Working as equal partners, police officers, detectives, troopers, deputy sheriffs, special agents and deputy marshals are reducing the backlog of fugitive arrest warrants. A network of task forces covers nearly every community. Five regional fugitive task forces serve large metropolitan areas, and 83 additional district task forces serve major cities. Because the USES is also the primary Federal law enforcement agency involved in investigations of international and foreign fugitives, it has also strengthened its overseas network. Most recently, the USES initiated Operation Falcon (Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally), the largest fugitive apprehension operation ever mounted in the United States. Between April 4, 2005, and April 10, 2005, deputy U. S. marshals teamed up with city, county, and State law enforcement partners and other Federal agencies to track down and arrest 10,518 fugitives wanted for violent crimes throughout the 50 States.