Gang Patrol Plan Raises Concerns : Violence: Officials are studying the proposal to guard school areas. But questions persist on the integrity of gangbangers and trouble their presence may bring.

A gang patrol made up of members from the United Gang Council is still being considered by school and city officials to keep the peace in Santa Ana, Anaheim and Fullerton, Anaheim Police Chief Joseph T. Molloy said Thursday.

School superintendents, school board members and three police chiefs are still going over the proposal made by the United Gang Council.

“My staff has met with (the United Gang Council) and had some discussions, but there are no resolutions at this point,” Molloy said.

Concern over the possibility of violence spreading, after a 16-year-old El Toro High School student was wounded in a drive-by shooting on Wednesday, has brought some concern to police and school officials.

Ken Jones, superintendent of the Fullerton Union High School District, said he didn’t know what exactly happened in El Toro but he is worried that gang patrols might invite even more violence simply because of their presence.

“One of my concerns is that if gang members from another city come up, then it could be those on patrol who are the source of the conflict,” Jones said. “And what about gangs from different ethnic groups?”

Bobby Flores, a member of the United Gang Council that was formed earlier this year and is based in Santa Ana, said they have plans to meet with parents from the local PTAs before making any decisions.

Flores also said that members of the patrol would wear caps and T-shirts signifying that they are part of the safety effort.

“We don’t want to scare anybody. We just want to make sure that the kids are able to walk home safely,” Flores said. “Things are getting out of control.”

Newly elected school board member Robert Stewart said he is not against the Anaheim Union School District having dialogue with the gang council. But he expressed concern about whether the patrol members will be allowed to carry weapons.

“I know that some gangs are already into cleaning up their neighborhoods from graffiti, and that’s a good direction,” Stewart said.

Katherine Hatch Smith, an outspoken critic of the gang patrol, said responsibility for patrolling the streets and schools belongs to the police.

Smith, who heads the anti-crime organization GRASP, also said there are too many questions, such as the integrity of the person working the patrols and whether the community will be involved.

“Our children’s safety is at heart, and there are too many questions,” Smith said. “The gang council has good intentions, but I think it (gang patrol) is ill-advised.”

Children’s safety is also a concern of the United Gang Council, Flores said.

“A lot of us have kids who go to school. I have a 12-year-old girl and a 4-year-old boy,” Flores said. “I don’t want them being afraid to walk home.”

“School is no place for violence,” he said. “It’s a place to learn, and someone has got to do something about it.”