Compton : Crime Crackdown Urged

Calling for a crackdown against illegal activities in their neighborhoods, a group of about 40 Compton residents appeared at the City Council meeting Tuesday to express their concerns.

Royce Esters, chairman of the city’s Standing Committee on Crime, told the council that the group wants mandatory drug testing for welfare recipients, the prosecution of buyers as well as sellers of illegal narcotics, reward money posted for the apprehension of vandals, a further expansion of the Compton Police Department and the enforcement of loitering and curfew laws.

Council members said they understood the group’s concerns and will take the suggestions into consideration.

Last fall, the council authorized the hiring of 18 additional police officers to add to Compton’s current force of 125. But police officials say that so far they been able to hire only five because most available recruits have been taking jobs with the Los Angeles Police Department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.