PHOENIX -- More than 600 violent criminals are off Arizona streets thanks to the joint effort of local, state and federal law enforcement, authorities said.

• Slideshow: 'Operation Falcon' Mug Shots

In a news conference Thursday, representatives from various Valley police departments, Arizona sheriff's offices and the U.S. Marshals Service said the arrests are part of a much larger warrant roundup, dubbed "Operation Falcon," which is dedicated to getting sex offenders, gang members and convicted killers, among others, off the streets.

"You can guarantee that the only way they're surviving is (by) committing a series of other crimes, so getting them off the streets certainly benefits all of us," said El Mirage Police Chief Mike Frazier.

In a recent sweep in El Mirage, law enforcement agents saturated the town's 12 square miles and arrested 26 people in 10 hours, clearing 50 warrants in the process.

Statewide, the effort cleared more than 650 warrants and arrested 643 violent offenders.

This is Operation Falcon's fifth year, and since it began, agencies have made more than 91,000 arrests nationwide; however, local agencies agreed there's more work to be done.

Statewide, there are more than 43,000 outstanding warrants -- 38,000 in Maricopa County alone.