SAN CLEMENTE : City Votes to Hire Gang Counselor

Concerned about increasing crimes committed by youths, including two gang-related shootings in the last year, the City Council this week voted to spend more than $63,000 to hire a full-time gang prevention specialist.

The money will allow the Police Department to hire a youth counselor from Community Service Programs Inc., who would be paid $22,710 for six months.

In addition, the council voted to set aside up to $16,500 to pay for office space, and to pay $24,070 for administrative services.

“This is complementary to the ongoing tough stance we have taken in our city on violence,” said Mayor Scott Diehl.

The council decided to contract with the counseling program instead of waiting to see if the neighboring cities of San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point would be willing to share the services and the costs, as had been discussed. But the city will continue negotiating with nearby city officials, Diehl said.

This week’s action was sparked by the recent shooting death outside the local Great Wall restaurant involving alleged rival gang members. And last year on Christmas Eve, a 4-year-old girl was wounded in the city’s first-ever drive-by shooting, believed to involve the same gangs as the recent shooting.

Community Service Programs, founded in 1972 at UC Irvine, contracts with Orange County’s police departments to provide counseling for first-time youth offenders.

San Clemente police have had a regular youth counselor since 1976, and Wednesday’s council action will allow them to add one with gang expertise.

The program is not related to the Gang Prevention Unit proposed by Orange County Sheriff Brad Gates and the County Board of Supervisors for the cities of San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point and San Clemente.