Anti-Gang Effort May Get Boost
The City Council Monday will consider allocating about $200,000 in state and federal grants to the gang suppression unit, which would make the pilot operation a semi-permanent fixture, officials said Friday.
In June, the City Council allocated $20,000 to fund a special police unit to track and combat gang activity for six months.
City officials said that the team has been so effective, they would like to use recent law enforcement grants to make the unit more permanent.
“We’re not going to let up on these guys,” Mayor Tracy Wills Worley said of the estimated 500 gang members in the city. “We want to make their lives miserable. And I can’t think of a better way to spend this money.”
Since June, the five-member police unit has conducted periodic sweeps that have resulted in the arrests of about 75 gang members.
The effect on the city’s streets has been noticeable, Councilman Mike Doyle said. “Kids are back on the street playing, which is why we did this in the first place,” he said. “We’re very, very pleased with the results.”
The City Council will seek public comment on the issue at 7 p.m. Monday in council chambers, 300 Centennial Way. Information: (714) 573-3000.
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