D.A. to Create Unit to Tackle Stalking Cases

Local law enforcement officials announced a new collaboration Friday aimed at curbing incidents of workplace violence, stalking and threats.

The effort, which officially begins July 1, will be highlighted by the creation of a Stalking and Threat Assessment Team within the district attorney’s office, which will assign two prosecutors to work full time on processing such cases.

The creation of the team, authorities said, will allow better coordination of cases brought to the district attorney for prosecution.

They said it will also enable attorneys versed in stalking and workplace violence cases to educate police officers and sheriff’s deputies on how to enforce new and tougher laws on criminal threats.

“Being the victim of a stalker is hideous and insidious. . . . It is like being a victim of the proverbial boogeyman,” said actress Theresa Saldana, who was nearly killed by a stalker in 1982.

Robin Curry, whose ex-husband was imprisoned for stalking her after their 12-year marriage ended, said she was terrorized for months even though she did all she could to avoid contact with her former spouse. “I left [my marriage] for my life,” Curry told reporters attending a news conference to announce the new law enforcement effort.

Although no statistics were available indicating that the number of stalking or workplace violence cases has risen, Los Angeles police said the department has sent an average of 300 to 400 such cases a year to the district attorney’s office for prosecution.