The Region : Street Gang Crime in L.A. Declines 11.1%

Street gang crime decreased 11.1% in the city last year, the Los Angeles Police Department said. In a written statement, Police Chief Daryl F. Gates said there were 3,985 gang crimes in 1984, compared to 4,481 the previous year. Gang-related homicides dropped from 123 in 1983 to 119 last year. Gates added that eight officers have been added to the gang activities section of the department’s Detectives Support Division and that 40 officers from the Metro Division have been assigned daily to combat gangs in South-Central Los Angeles. Gates also announced that Assistant Police Chief Marvin D. Iannone has been appointed chairman of Mayor Tom Bradley’s Task Force on Gang Activity.