COMMENTARY
March 17, 2008
Gang Problem Real and Growing in San Diego Region
By Pam Slater-Price
Gangs might make for interesting drama at the movies, but they are certainly not make-believe.
And San Diego County is no exception to the gang problem.
However, the County of San Diego is taking steps to address this plague on society by forming a regional commission.
In the City of San Diego, overall crime rates dropped 2 percent last year, while gang-related crime actually jumped by 23 percent, according to the city. The highest rising gang-related crimes were homicides.
The situation is no better in North County, where the problems are mainly concentrated, but not limited to the Highway 78 corridor cities of Oceanside, Vista, San Marcos and Escondido. Encinitas and Solana Beach also have a minor share of the gang problem.
Various police agencies attest that North County is home to at least 24 gangs with more than 2,000 total members. The two most high-profile deaths caused by gang violence were two men in uniform – Oceanside police officers, Tony Zeppetella in June 2003 and Dan Bessant in December 2006.
Fellow county Supervisor Bill Horn and I teamed up to form the North County Gang Commission.
We have appointed seven members to this commission which will work with local law enforcement from multiple jurisdictions and nonprofit organizations to create after-school programs, workforce training and pursue grant funding.
Recently, the federal government awarded about $1.3 million to the entire San Diego region, including the City of San Diego, to beef up law enforcement to deal with the gang problems. And while commissions and additional law enforcement are needed to fight this problem – it’s certainly not a panacea.
But we must begin somewhere and not give up on the youths that hope to one day escape the gang life, nor should we let the gangs run riot in our communities. We plan to tighten up the law enforcement net to stop gang violence.
The commission will try to break apart the complex problem by increasing coordination between police, community leaders, educators and social service providers to allow North County’s law-abiding citizens to take charge of their lives.
My two appointments bring some much-needed insight to the gang problem.
Robert Gillies of Encinitas formerly worked for the county District Attorney’s office and the Oakland Police Department, a city known to struggle with heavy gang activity.
My other appointment is Kathleen Crusing of Escondido, who works with children in local chapters of the Youth Marines program and area church groups.
Supervisor Horn also brought necessary ingredients to the discussion with his appointments. Horn’s appointments include Ken Noonan, retired superintendent of the Oceanside Unified School District; Serge Duarte, a retired deputy special agent in charge for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; Katherine Valdez, a social and health services representative; and Dick High, retired North County Times publisher.
The final appointment from Horn, who has not yet been appointed, will be a former gang member who will offer much-needed insight into that world.
As I said, there are no absolute cures for this problem.
It is real and the effects on our society are very tangible – from gang graffiti to property crimes to drug offenses to homicides, and everything in between.
But, additional law enforcement and commissions will attempt to may make the problem at least more management - and that’s a real goal worth working toward.
Pam Slater-Price is the Third District Supervisor for the County of San Diego.
