ANAHEIM : Neighbors Band to Fight Area’s Crime

About 450 residents vowed to band together to wipe out gang violence, drug dealing and prostitution they say have plagued Sabina Street.

On Monday night, the residents said they were tired of hiding in their homes, afraid to go out at night.

The pact to fight back was made during a meeting organized by the Orange County Congregation Community Organization at St. Boniface Catholic Church.

Eight residents, who said they were afraid of retaliation, told of drive-by shootings, rape, assaults, drugs and other criminal activity they have witnessed on Sabina Street.

Homeowner Lois Schechinger said she has been threatened by gang members and told to stay away from a house she rents. “One tenant has been raped because she called police all the time,” she said.

Schechinger belongs to TOPS, a group of residents from Topeka, Olive, Pauline and Sabina streets who patrol their neighborhood at night with flashlights.

She said that when TOPS members walk the neighborhood, they get bottles, rocks, tomatoes and hard fruits thrown at them.

Although the residents patrol the area, they said at the meeting that more law enforcement is needed.

Organizers of the meeting invited a code-enforcement supervisor, a police captain and a city official to listen to their concerns. Steven E. Swaim, the city’s gang and drug community services manager, and Richard La Rochelle, code enforcement supervisor, promised to meet again with residents to discuss the problems.

No one from the Police Department attended the meeting.

Police Capt. Roger Baker said Tuesday that Sabina Street receives as much attention as all other streets in the city. Sabina Street is in the central part of the city between Lincoln Avenue and Sycamore Street.

“We have shrinking resources,” Baker said. “I will tell you that there is a police presence there (from) the gang, narcotics, vice and crime task forces, regular traffic patrol and helicopter detail. All the police services imaginable are in and around that community as they are in all areas of the community.”

Area residents said police are not doing enough.

“In a single two-week period, our (church and community) leaders have logged over 50 incidents of drug purchases, people openly using drugs and prostitution on Sabina Street,” said Sandy Livka, a St. Boniface parishioner.

“The families who live on Sabina Street are living in fear for their lives,” Sister Vickie Brady said. “They need action now.

“We’re asking (city officials) to tell us what they can do to help. We want to work in partnership with the city and have them respond.”

Mayor Tom Daly said he would meet with residents Friday. The group has scheduled another meeting June 9 to plan a strategy on how to turn the troubled street into a safer place in which to live.