SAN FERNANDO : Police to Step Up Patrols at Park

San Fernando Police Chief Dominick Rivetti has assured community representatives that he will increase nighttime police patrols at Las Palmas Park after complaints that gang activity is on the rise.

Marisela Torres, a schoolteacher at Santa Rosa Catholic Church, asked for increased patrols from 7 p.m. to midnight on weekdays, when many parents and children gather for baseball and soccer practice. Torres spoke on behalf of community members who feared retaliation if they came forward.

“They are scared, especially at night,” said Torres, who raised the issue at the San Fernando City Council meeting Monday night. “They want to see more police going through that area.”

Some parents became jittery about two weeks ago when they saw suspected gang members brandishing weapons in a baseball field at the park, city officials said.

In 1991, the council adopted an ordinance banning all known gang members from Las Palmas Park after the shooting of a woman and her three small children, who were caught in a gang cross-fire as they walked in the park. The American Civil Liberties Union challenged the constitutionality of the ordinance, but dropped its lawsuit after the law expired in June, 1992.

After hearing from Torres, Councilman Doude Wysbeek asked Rivetti if it would be necessary to revive the ban.

“I’m confident at this point we can get it back under control without the use of the ordinance,” Rivetti replied. “I have put the special problems unit back on Las Palmas Park to monitor it.”

In addition, Rivetti said, park officers who have already stepped up patrols at all three city parks on weekends will be directed to patrol Las Palmas during the night Monday through Friday.