ORANGE COUNTY PERSPECTIVE : Now the All-Important Follow-Up

The police sweep through a crime-ravaged Santa Ana neighborhood Wednesday was welcome news for long-suffering residents, but city officials must ensure there is follow-up law enforcement if permanent change is to result.

Various local and federal agencies helped in the months-long undercover investigation, which resulted in the arrests of more than 100 people on charges of dealing drugs and other crimes.

The raids, which were well publicized afterward, and a press conference that was held raised the stakes for prosecutors in their quest to gain guilty pleas or jury convictions. If they succeed, the sweep could prove to be a good joint use of resources.

An innovative element that was involved was the use for the first time in Orange County of a second grand jury to investigate just this case and return indictments. Under tougher laws recently enacted, there could be longer sentences for many of those arrested.

The accused were said to be members or, more often, associates of an especially violent group known as the 6th Street gang, which preyed on an area that, ironically, is within walking distance of the sheriff’s headquarters, the main county jail, City Hall, the city Police Department and the county Hall of Administration.

An especially disturbing aspect of the sweep was the arrest of a 13-year-old. It is indeed sad that one so young would be accused of selling drugs. Another disturbing aspect of the case was the fact there have been systematic sales of drugs so close to Santa Ana schools.

Residents said the neighborhood had long been unsafe at night, but that recently gang activity had forced fearful law-abiding people to stay inside during the day as well. It is intolerable when people cannot walk to a nearby store and youngsters cannot use parks because they are overrun by drug dealers.

Some residents along West 3rd Street in the gang territory are understandably doubtful of the lasting effects of the crackdown, and that is something city officials must address. Frequent police sweeps would send the message that the city means business. So would organizing residents into neighborhood watch groups and involving churches and service organizations in plans to clean up sidewalks and erase graffiti, report shot-out street lights and, in general, give people a sense that they can improve the situation.

It is unfortunate, but not surprising, that politics has intruded in the wake of the Santa Ana sweep, with Gov. Pete Wilson showing up at the press conference and his Democratic challenger, Kathleen Brown, then criticizing the governor. Residents, police and city officials of course realize that after the politicians leave, the locals must keep up the pressure on the criminals.