New 24-Hour Hot Line Could Put a Chill on Gang Activity : Residents will now be able to dial 1-800-NO-GANGS for education, protected involvement.

Beginning today, the telephone will become the latest weapon against the war on gangs. Concerned Orange County residents will now be able to call (800) NO-GANGS for information.

Violent crime in America has grown to crisis proportions, harming our quality of life. Nationally, during the past 30 years, the rate of violent crime has increased nine times the rate of the population growth.

In his final report to the chiefs of police, Dr. Malcolm W. Klein, of the Center for Research on Crime and Social Control at USC wrote, “Of the 177 cities having a population of 100,000 or more, 148 or 84% reported a gang problem.” It’s clear that the problem has been escalating rapidly.

The American people are also suffering from extraordinary levels of violent crime by young adults and juveniles.

The no-gang information line will help combat this horrifying trend. The hot line is a central part of a community education and involvement campaign sponsored by the Orange County Chiefs of Police and Sheriff’s Assn. The hot line will serve to reduce the gang intimidation factor. Many law-abiding people are afraid to step forward. Severe cases of gangs threatening witnesses have become widespread and commonplace.

The hot line will be available seven days a week, 24 hours a day to coordinate resources and direct people to the help they need.

The campaign, “Project: No Gangs,” will also consist of 60-second spots on local radio stations and include newspaper and bus advertising to help raise awareness and educate people on the dangers of gang involvement in Orange County. The principal concept is to bring to our youth an understanding that gang membership is dangerous, and to help parents learn how to keep their children out of gangs.

After the Police and Education Gang Conference last February, numerous teachers expressed a positive response to the implementation of the hot line.

One dedicated Orange County teacher speaking from direct experience with parents of at-risk children said many of them feared their children will become involved in gang activity--but didn’t know where to turn for help. They expressed fear of gang retaliation. Now this teacher, as well as all Orange County instructors, will be able to offer help. The bilingual hot line provides information while allowing for anonymity.

Additionally, many educators have expressed tremendous support for the recently passed gang-attire bill. Experience has shown that reasonable guidelines with regard to student dress greatly minimize discipline problems and curtail gang violence on campus.

It is imperative that members of the American Civil Liberties Union differentiate the theoretical from the pragmatic, thus embracing the anti-gang effort. It is not our intention to infringe on civil rights. Our sole purpose is to keept our youngsters out of harm’s way.

The Orange County Chiefs and Sheriff’s Assn. is seriously concerned about the rapid growth of gangs in the county. Long-lasting negative effects will follow if this problem is not properly addressed in a countywide law enforcement effort.

Concurrent with the policy of pretrial detention of violent juvenile offenders, the community must demand stiffer sanctions for those involved in criminal gang activities. Gang members who commit murder must face the death penalty.

A proactive countywide approach must be taken. We need only to look to the overwhelming gang problems faced by Los Angeles County. The Los Angeles Police Department’s volatile Hollenbeck Division averaged one gang killing a week last year. We must make every effort not to allow this level of bloodshed to become commonplace in Orange County.