Topeka police say they have made impressive gains in the four months since creating a violent crime unit after a spate of crimes earlier this year.

Police say since the unit formed, it has arrested 236 suspected criminals, seized several pounds of marijuana and methamphetamine and 30 guns, including assault weapons. Officers have also seized 2.25 grams of heroin.

Those statistics are in addition to investigations unrelated to gang activity.

The Topeka Capital-Journal reports (http://bit.ly/2cLpGR2) the unit’s efforts to curb gang violence were revealed during a council briefing Thursday.

The newspaper filed a records request seeking documents about the unit. The city’s legal staff declined to release more than 240 pages, citing a need to protect the officers and the integrity of their investigations.

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Information from: The Topeka (Kan.) Capital-Journal, http://www.cjonline.com.