News CRIME/PUBLIC SAFETY
x - close Recent Stories By Ed Fletcher
Gang order stirs debate
The injunction has cut W. Sac crime, police say; critics claim arrests don't tell the full story.
By Ed Fletcher -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, February 10, 2006
Story appeared in Metro section, Page B1
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One year after West Sacramento began its well-publicized gang crackdown, a sharp division remains between the police and many within the community.
Some insist the Broderick Boys gang is not a gang at all. Others call the court-ordered gang injunction an overreaction. And civil libertarians say it tramples on individuals' rights.
But for all the protests, press and politicking over the injunction, the police have infrequently used it.
Since a judge issued the injunction on Feb. 9, 2005, the West Sacramento Police Department has used it to make a total of 25 arrests of 16 suspected gang members, according to police records.
Those arrests represent 1 percent of the 2,400 arrests over the one-year span.
Despite the small number, Police Chief Dan Drummond said the injunction is "part of the reason" violent crime had dropped 23 percent in the targeted gang area from the time it was implemented through Dec. 31.
The injunction places permanent restrictions, including a 10 p.m. curfew, on gang members within a 3-square-mile "safety zone" within town - covering about a third of the city.
Members also can be found in violation of the injunction for associating with other members, drinking alcohol in public, using drugs, intimidating witnesses, possessing weapons, spraying graffiti, owning spray-paint cans or trespassing.
While the department says there are 350 members of the gang, only 119 of the "most active" have been served with the injunction.
Drummond said the department has not conducted organized gang sweeps. If officers encounter gang members violating the curfew or other rules of the injunction, they can be searched and arrested, Drummond said.
"The part that appealed to me, is that it was an intervention tool. You didn't have to wait for something to happen," said Drummond.
He said the injunction has allowed officers to stop and search individuals that they would not have had grounds to otherwise. In some cases, it led to other charges.
Richard Lee Dazo, 19, has been arrested for violating the injunction seven times. Sometimes, it was for breaking curfew. The most serious related charge was March 5 when he allegedly attempted to evade police in a stolen car.
Efforts to reach Dazo were unsuccessful. His grandfather, David Dazo of West Sacramento, said there's no Broderick Boys gang and his grandson is not as bad as police say he is.
"I know Richie," he said.
In other cases, violating the injunction was tacked onto other charges.
For example, Blake Luke, 21, of West Sacramento, was arrested April 18 after allegedly fleeing from police in a stolen car. The arrest report cites auto theft, receiving stolen property, evading an officer, possession of burglary tools, drug possession and violating the injunction.
"Overall I believe the injunction has been helpful in reducing both violent and lower-level crimes," Drummond wrote in a report to city staff this month. "I believe that the perception of safety has also improved across the city."
In addition to a drop in violent crime, the department also reported a decrease in complaints due to disorderly conduct, fights, noise, battery and vandalism.
But critics of the injunction say arrest statistics don't tell the full story. Many informal police stops that don't result in an arrest are not documented, but the incidents can affect community relations.
West Sacramento resident Frank Gonzalez said the department's actions have shaken residents out of their normal routines. He said some are afraid of being harassed for enjoying a beer on their porch or hanging out with neighbors.
"We have a lot of people that are being mistreated," said Gonzalez, the president of the West Sacramento chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which opposes the injunction.
Maria Gonzalez said the injunction was preventing her boyfriend, an alleged gang member served with the injunction, from being a good father.
"My partner is unable to attend our children's games if they are in the zone and another resident (who) has been served is present," said Gonzalez in November. She was speaking at a news conference with the American Civil Liberties Union.
"What can we tell our children when they ask, 'When is Daddy coming to our games?' " she asked.
The ACLU and the Yolo County Public Defender's office have mounted unsuccessful court challenges against the injunction. The ACLU plans to appeal its case.
Many longtime residents say the Broderick Boys are just local kids expressing pride in their "Broderick" neighborhood though body art and dress, but police say the gang is linked to the Norteño street gang.
Phil Barros believes the answer is more nuanced.
The retired state Department of Corrections parole agent said while some of the "Broderick Boys" have serious gang links, there is no local leadership and most would best be classified as common criminals or misguided youth. He said the police should be more careful before labeling someone a gang member.
"My whole thing is to treat people fairly," said Barros, a Sacramento resident and chairman of La Raza Network, which is fighting the injunction. "I want to make sure even criminals have their rights."
Drummond said most of the negative reaction has come from those related to gang members.
"It's hard to be objective about your family," Drummond said.
West Sacramento's Mayor Christopher Cabaldon agreed. He called the opposition a "small but vocal" group.
"Our interests have been driven by long-time residents and families who either didn't feel safe or were worried about losing their kids to gangs," Cabaldon said.
x - close Recent Stories By Ed Fletcher
Gang order stirs debate
The injunction has cut W. Sac crime, police say; critics claim arrests don't tell the full story.
By Ed Fletcher -- Bee Staff Writer
Published 2:15 am PST Friday, February 10, 2006
Story appeared in Metro section, Page B1
Get weekday updates of Sacramento Bee headlines and breaking news. Sign up here.
One year after West Sacramento began its well-publicized gang crackdown, a sharp division remains between the police and many within the community.
Some insist the Broderick Boys gang is not a gang at all. Others call the court-ordered gang injunction an overreaction. And civil libertarians say it tramples on individuals' rights.
But for all the protests, press and politicking over the injunction, the police have infrequently used it.
Since a judge issued the injunction on Feb. 9, 2005, the West Sacramento Police Department has used it to make a total of 25 arrests of 16 suspected gang members, according to police records.
Those arrests represent 1 percent of the 2,400 arrests over the one-year span.
Despite the small number, Police Chief Dan Drummond said the injunction is "part of the reason" violent crime had dropped 23 percent in the targeted gang area from the time it was implemented through Dec. 31.
The injunction places permanent restrictions, including a 10 p.m. curfew, on gang members within a 3-square-mile "safety zone" within town - covering about a third of the city.
Members also can be found in violation of the injunction for associating with other members, drinking alcohol in public, using drugs, intimidating witnesses, possessing weapons, spraying graffiti, owning spray-paint cans or trespassing.
While the department says there are 350 members of the gang, only 119 of the "most active" have been served with the injunction.
Drummond said the department has not conducted organized gang sweeps. If officers encounter gang members violating the curfew or other rules of the injunction, they can be searched and arrested, Drummond said.
"The part that appealed to me, is that it was an intervention tool. You didn't have to wait for something to happen," said Drummond.
He said the injunction has allowed officers to stop and search individuals that they would not have had grounds to otherwise. In some cases, it led to other charges.
Richard Lee Dazo, 19, has been arrested for violating the injunction seven times. Sometimes, it was for breaking curfew. The most serious related charge was March 5 when he allegedly attempted to evade police in a stolen car.
Efforts to reach Dazo were unsuccessful. His grandfather, David Dazo of West Sacramento, said there's no Broderick Boys gang and his grandson is not as bad as police say he is.
"I know Richie," he said.
In other cases, violating the injunction was tacked onto other charges.
For example, Blake Luke, 21, of West Sacramento, was arrested April 18 after allegedly fleeing from police in a stolen car. The arrest report cites auto theft, receiving stolen property, evading an officer, possession of burglary tools, drug possession and violating the injunction.
"Overall I believe the injunction has been helpful in reducing both violent and lower-level crimes," Drummond wrote in a report to city staff this month. "I believe that the perception of safety has also improved across the city."
In addition to a drop in violent crime, the department also reported a decrease in complaints due to disorderly conduct, fights, noise, battery and vandalism.
But critics of the injunction say arrest statistics don't tell the full story. Many informal police stops that don't result in an arrest are not documented, but the incidents can affect community relations.
West Sacramento resident Frank Gonzalez said the department's actions have shaken residents out of their normal routines. He said some are afraid of being harassed for enjoying a beer on their porch or hanging out with neighbors.
"We have a lot of people that are being mistreated," said Gonzalez, the president of the West Sacramento chapter of the League of United Latin American Citizens, which opposes the injunction.
Maria Gonzalez said the injunction was preventing her boyfriend, an alleged gang member served with the injunction, from being a good father.
"My partner is unable to attend our children's games if they are in the zone and another resident (who) has been served is present," said Gonzalez in November. She was speaking at a news conference with the American Civil Liberties Union.
"What can we tell our children when they ask, 'When is Daddy coming to our games?' " she asked.
The ACLU and the Yolo County Public Defender's office have mounted unsuccessful court challenges against the injunction. The ACLU plans to appeal its case.
Many longtime residents say the Broderick Boys are just local kids expressing pride in their "Broderick" neighborhood though body art and dress, but police say the gang is linked to the Norteño street gang.
Phil Barros believes the answer is more nuanced.
The retired state Department of Corrections parole agent said while some of the "Broderick Boys" have serious gang links, there is no local leadership and most would best be classified as common criminals or misguided youth. He said the police should be more careful before labeling someone a gang member.
"My whole thing is to treat people fairly," said Barros, a Sacramento resident and chairman of La Raza Network, which is fighting the injunction. "I want to make sure even criminals have their rights."
Drummond said most of the negative reaction has come from those related to gang members.
"It's hard to be objective about your family," Drummond said.
West Sacramento's Mayor Christopher Cabaldon agreed. He called the opposition a "small but vocal" group.
"Our interests have been driven by long-time residents and families who either didn't feel safe or were worried about losing their kids to gangs," Cabaldon said.
