DATE: April
4, 2000
TO: Board of Supervisors
SUBJECT: Regional Gang Suppression Unit Expansion
SUMMARY: Recommendation(s): 1) Approve in concept the expansion of the Regional Gang Suppression
Unit within the Sheriff's Department that will further the County's ability
to investigate and prevent gang activity county-wide.
2) Direct the Chief Administrative Officer to work with the Sheriff's
Department to identify the necessary resources needed to expand the Regional
Gang Suppression Unit in the Fiscal Year 2000-2001 budget.
Fiscal Impact: Background: Despite the increase in activity, the Sheriff's Gang Suppression Unit
is minimally staffed by a part-time Lieutenant, a Sergeant and a total
of six deputies. Only one deputy is county funded. These eight law enforcement
officers are responsible for all gang activity in the 4,200 square miles
of the unincorporated area and contract cities. This is not sufficient
to adequately combat gangs and improve the safety for San Diego county
residents. It is critical that law enforcement be proactive, not simply
reactive, to gang activity. A region-wide Gang Suppression Unit will do
this.
Gang Suppression Units are composed of integrated, mutually supportive
components:
investigation of gang related crimes, Recent Board actions to counter targeted gang activity have been successful.
In 1995, Supervisor Horn led a successful effort to create the North County
Gang Task Force to work on high-impact cases in the northern region of
the county. Additionally, in 1998 and again in 1999, Supervisor Greg Cox
worked with the District Attorney's office and the Sheriff's department
to secure a Grant for a multi-component program to reduce and divert gang
activities in the South Bay region of the county. Now is the time to build
on these efforts by expanding the Regional Gang Suppression Unit county-wide.
These efforts, along with the existing Regional Gang Suppression unit
are strong pieces in the effort to combat gangs in San Diego County. However,
these units do not provide enough manpower to combat gang activities.
As individual case loads increase, it is necessary to expand the Regional
Gang Suppression Unit to improve the safety for all San Diego County residents
and prevent this threat to our communities.
Respectfully Submitted,
DIANNE JACOB BILL KOLENDER
The Sheriff's Regional Gang Suppression Unit is a specialized force focusing
on reducing gang crime throughout the entire county. There are currently
100 gangs with over 10,000 members in this region. In 1998 Supervisor
Cox and Supervisor Horn brought the effort to the forefront by calling
for a Regional Gang Suppression Task Force to study the issue and develop
recommendations. We know what needs to be done to reduce gang activity.
Today's action is the first step in expanding the Regional Gang Suppression
Unit to provide safer streets throughout the County.
Chairwoman Dianne Jacob and Sheriff Bill Kolender
There is no fiscal impact. Funding for the expansion of the Sheriff's
Regional Gang Suppression Unit is referred to the 2000-2001 budget process.
There are currently 100 gangs with 10,000 gang members throughout San
Diego County, and the numbers are growing. As urban law enforcement agencies
focus on combating gangs, gang activities in the unincorporated areas
of the county are increasing.
uniformed gang suppression efforts by specially trained deputies,
gang interdiction efforts designed to enlist community and parental involvement
in discouraging youngsters from joining gangs.
Failure to place responsibility for gang investigations in a designated
specialized unit not only takes away valuable resources needed in other
areas of the department, but also causes problems with timely identification
of suspects in gang crimes, successful prosecution of gang members including
criminal sentence enhancements, timely gang intelligence documentation
in the state-wide computer database, and up-to-date maintenance of gang
files.
Chairwoman
Sheriff
