If Sheriff Can’t Lead Anti-Gang Fight, He Won’t Join It

Let’s play detective.

Or, maybe, amateur psychologist.

Let’s try to figure out why Sheriff Brad Gates, that rootin’, tootin’ son-of-a-gun from south Orange County, wouldn’t embrace an umbrella anti-gang program proposed by Dist. Atty. Michael R. Capizzi. Police chiefs from six other cities are on board, but when Gates, whose domain includes several South County cities, was invited, he balked.

In the grand scheme of things, it may not matter. Three cities in Gates’ bailiwick are about to start their own joint anti-gang program. Maybe it will work wonders.

But never to be forgotten is that Brad Gates’ grand scheme of things always keeps sight of one goal: furthering Brad Gates.

As a result, throwing in his lot with a program sponsored by the district attorney’s office--based on one already shown to be effective in Westminster--apparently left Gates cold.

“I’ve known him for many years, and he’s a very political person,” says a former deputy district attorney. “He wants to be known as the kingpin of law enforcement in Orange County, and he heads the pack. If he puts his department into (the D.A.’s program), he’s going to lose his identity because now he becomes part of another name, an Orange County gang task force. Even though he would have a say, he wouldn’t have the sole voice as he would running his own operation. That’s where he loses his profile and gets lost in the shuffle.”

The surprising part of Gates’ “thanks, but no thanks” attitude is that gang activity has hit with a thud in South County. The fatal assault nearly two months ago on San Clemente teen-ager Steve Woods and the subsequent arrest of alleged gang members brought the simmering gang issue to full boil.

That Gates would choose to separate himself so openly from what amounts to a countywide anti-gang program carries a bit of a political gamble. Although there certainly will be anti-gang programs in place in South County if Gates runs for reelection next year, any opponent could rightly ask why he pooh-poohed the joint effort.

“Capizzi and Gates have never been blood brothers,” the former deputy D.A. said, in trying to assess Gates’ reaction. “What Capizzi may be trying is to bolster his political aspirations by forming a committee of this nature, and Gates may be angry, perturbed that it’s noted as Capizzi’s idea, not his.”

Capizzi is also asking the Board of Supervisors for $2 million for his proposal. Obviously, any other anti-gang programs would need more funds, and Gates’ law enforcement budget could be a likely place to look. I can see the sheriff’s hair standing on end at the thought.

One South County social service activist said: “I wonder if it isn’t just power. That’s what I have to think right now. He’s not known for ever giving up any kind of power.”

While generally satisfied with the Sheriff Department’s involvement in local anti-gang efforts, she said her initial reaction was that “he was being very arrogant and that he can’t know what’s best for everybody. He doesn’t, and I’m really upset about that.”

Not to worry, says San Clemente Councilman Scott Diehl. “Gang activity is increasing all over the county, but every community has a different flavor, if you will,” he said. “In San Clemente, we have a situation where not all members are in one location, like in other communities. We have a situation that has escalated very, very dramatically, uncharacteristically. In other areas, they’ve been dealing with it for a longer period of time.”

As a result, Diehl said, the South County cities of San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point are teaming for what amount to “tailor-made” anti-gang programs. A new special gang detail is just starting up, he noted, and city officials have high hopes for it.

Diehl said he’s not upset that South County cities are devising their own program. “People sometimes become a little oversensitive if a particular individual is not doing it their way,” he said. “I quite frankly think the gang problem in Orange County is big enough to have a lot of different efforts put forward.”

Perhaps fighting gangs is still an art and not a science. Maybe Brad Gates does know best for the cities in his sphere of influence. Maybe a program that has the district attorney and police chiefs excited in six other cities isn’t what’s best for South County.

I could have sworn, though, that I’ve heard the sheriff talk about “the team” when it comes to fighting crime. Oh, the lectures we’ve heard when others have balked at his countywide plans for the jail system and the war on drugs.

Turns out, the “team” approach may matter only when the sheriff gets to play captain.