Gang-Related Violence Down, Officials Told

VAN NUYS — Despite a nominal increase in homicides, police officials told City Council members Friday that overall gang-related violence has dropped significantly this year in the San Fernando Valley.

In a briefing convened by Mike Feuer and attended by Valley council members Joel Wachs, Laura Chick, Richard Alarcon, Cindy Miscikowski as well as City Atty. James Hahn, the LAPD’s top Valley brass spoke candidly about what city leaders can do to further combat the gang problem.

“Even a single gang-related murder is completely intolerable,” said Feuer. “But if you look at the last several years, police strategies are beginning to show significant results.”

Command officers reported that LAPD statistics show there have been 29 gang-related homicides in the Valley this year, a rate outpacing last year’s total of 25.

But since last year, all gang-related crimes dropped 33% in the West Valley Division, 17% in Foothill, 17% in Devonshire, 25% in Van Nuys and 19% in North Hollywood.

Police noted that each police division has different methods of attacking gang violence, but that all are paying off this year.

Deputy Chief Michael J. Bostic told council members that passing motions requiring police to deal with specific problems “hindered” their work.

“It severely limits our ability to deal with day-to-day crime spikes,” Bostic said.

Bostic also suggested that law-enforcement resources would be better spent tracking gang members who violate parole, rather than trying to enforce injunctions against gang activity.

Carefully tracking probation violations by gang members would be more effective “than [spending] $1 million on a gang injunction,” Bostic told Hahn.

Hahn replied that the injunctions, used to a limited degree, were successful and cited a court-ordered crackdown on Blythe Street gang members.

Police pointed out successful programs, such as outreach to at-risk kids, community policing concentrating on Spanish-speaking neighborhoods and prevention work in the schools.

“It’s easy to fall into the trap of giving the appearance of effectiveness rather than being effective,” said Feuer. “Being effective is contingent on knowing the details.”

Foothill Division Cmdr. Ronald Bergman said he appreciated the candor of those attending, and called the meeting very productive. “This is the most unique meeting I’ve ever been to in my 25 years,” said Bergman.