Focal Point : Orange Community Policing

Orange citizens have been debating whether Police Chief John R. Robertson should continue his community policing program in the heavily Latino Villa Santiago apartment complex, where officers walk the beat. For “Over the past few months, we have seen the criminal gang activity across the street diminish and diminish. Obviously, Chief (John) Robertson’s policies have worked. They have produced a dramatic increase in the safety of our neighborhood. The Mexicans who come here illegally are looking for work and the driving force is economic. We can’t expect the police to compenstate for failed federal immigration laws and policy.” Against “This program should not be situated in this area. A good many of the people in the area are illegal aliens, which means these programs are benefiting illegal aliens. It’s just another service for them. If they were discouraged from coming to Orange, they would not attempt to settle here. The rest of the city is being denied resources it needs in order for police to cover an area encompassing many illegal aliens.”