Social Solutions to Gang Problem

Your article “Fight Against Gangs Turns to Social Solution” (Part A, Nov. 11) leaves me troubled. First, you suggest the Los Angeles Police Department’s approach to the problem has been singular, focusing on massive, tough law-enforcement operations. That is not completely accurate. Operation Hammer is one of our important strategies that has indeed proven effective, but we clearly recognize that it is only one of our tools.

Traditional tough law enforcement is one tool, but we recognize the absolute necessity of other strategies. Our program includes DARE, the most effective and accepted drug-abuse prevention program in the world. We also have Operation Cul-de-Sac, an innovative approach to community-based policing; Operation Safe Schools, which is dramatically reducing truancy, and Jeopardy, a gang prevention strategy involving parents. In short, we are doing our best to take a full-spectrum approach. But to suggest that our basic and perhaps most effective tool of tough law enforcement be abandoned or de-emphasized just when it is finally reaping favorable results is wrong.

Gang violence in South-Central Los Angeles has actually started decreasing. But I must point out that during the last three years we have deployed more supplementary traditional police resources in that portion of the city to fight gang violence than in any other area.

We must continue to confront criminal gang terrorists on the streets, seize their guns, impound their cars, confiscate their drugs and, when we can find room, put them in jail so they can’t continue their cowardly acts of ambush shootings.

Gang violence and drug abuse are manifestations of much deeper and complex social problems. In my opinion, the weakening of our most basic social structure, the family unit, is the most serious underlying problem we must address. When the family unit fails, numerous other problems emerge. Though there are many well-meaning programs that have tried to function as alternatives to the family unit, none have succeeded.

Violence continues to stain our streets. I suggest we emphasize the development of social programs that effectively support and build up the family unit. Until such programs begin to work, the great majority of residents in gang-infested neighborhoods are not advocating any de-emphasis of aggressive law enforcement. Those residents cry out for protection. The Los Angeles Police Department listens.

ROBERT L. VERNON

Assistant Chief, Office of Operations

Los Angeles Police Department