Southeast : Cambodians Seeking Stronger Police Ties

Activists in Long Beach’s Cambodian community are seeking a community-based policing office to help cut crime in their neighborhoods. For more than a year, activists have pointed to burgeoning gang problems that they say threaten the Cambodian population. They say recent murders and robberies in the heart of the Cambodian community underscore the need for more police who are fluent in Khmer, as well as programs to protect their business community.

Cambodian businessman Alan Woo told the city’s Public Safety Advisory Commission last month that the Cambodian community is not receiving police services in proportion to its “population and needs.” Activists have have offered space in a community center for the police office and are working with police on how it would operate.

Police expect to report to the City Council next month on whether such an office can be established.