The Region - News from Nov. 8, 1985

A temporary Los Angeles police task force intended to bolster the department’s anti-gang units will be disbanded because “it has accomplished its mission,” Cmdr. Lorne Kramer said. The 33-officer task force was established in late July to pursue telephone tips from civilians via a new “gang hot line,” and to target 35 locations frequented by gang members. Kramer, the department’s gang enforcement coordinator, said the hot line--(213) 485-4551--will continue to operate, with calls being forwarded to regular anti-gang units or detectives. In more than three months of operation, the task force, made up of officers from regular patrol units, responded to 330 hot line calls, made 693 arrests, tallied 1,835 contacts with gang members, and confiscated 92 guns and 26 knives, Kramer said.