LA HABRA : Shortfall Imperils Anti-Gang Program

The city’s Gang Violence Suppression Program will end next year if outside funding cannot be found for it, officials have announced.

The program was implemented in 1992 with a grant from the state Office of Criminal Justice Planning. Its purpose is to decrease gang violence by vigorously citing minors for violating La Habra’s curfew and loitering in public, and by monitoring student truancy at high schools.

During the past year, 91 youths have been cited for loitering on public streets between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., police said. They said the threat of a citation, the consequent court appearance and $50 fine has deterred many youngsters from hanging out late at night and early in the morning, when most gang activity is reported.

The program this year is being funded with $109,600 from the state and $46,519 from the city. The state grant will dry up in fiscal year 1995-96, and the city says it cannot afford to support it alone.

Authorities said that although gang problems still exist in La Habra, there has been a noticeable reduction in gang-related murders due to the program, which involves schools, community organizations and volunteers as well as police. No gang-related homicides were reported in the past year, police said.

In addition to its curfew enforcement aspect, the program provides for a police officer to be stationed Mondays through Fridays at the city’s two high schools--La Habra and Sonora. Those officers work with school officials to crack down on truancy. They also serve on the School Attendance Review Board in an effort to keep kids in school and off the streets, Police Chief Steven Staveley said.

“We have been so successful with this program,” he said. “It is making the gang lifestyle unattractive.”

Staveley pointed to the Police Department’s role in closely monitoring the city’s 40 most notorious gang members. He said 29 are in jail and the rest are checked on constantly.

“Our goal is to get them to deviate from the gang lifestyle but if they violate the law, they’re going to jail,” Staveley said. “Gangs have been here for 75 years so they are not going away overnight, but we’re making progress.”