HOUSTON -- A six-month initiative between the Houston Police Department and federal authorities targeting violent crime in Houston netted nearly 600 arrests, KPRC Local 2 reported Monday.

The Violent Crimes Impact Teams Initiative, which began June 6 and ended on Nov. 23, was designed to fight violent crimes in high-crime areas of the city, particularly west and southwest Houston.

"We use surveillance of individuals in locations, vehicle checks, as well as depending a great deal upon the partners that we work with on a day-to-day basis -- the citizens of the city of Houston," HPD Chief Harold Hurtt said.

During the initiative, Houston police and authorities with the Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives made 580 arrests. Of those arrested, 207 were gang members.

Authorities also recovered 104 guns, 32 vehicles and $63,600 in cash, most of which came from drug deals.

Most of the arrests were made before Louisiana residents fled to Texas during the Hurricane Katrina evacuation, but Hurtt said he knew of at least four homicides connected to evacuees.

Hurtt said the initiative's goal was to stop repeat offenders by making sure they were behind bars in a county jail or state prison.