Saturday, October 17, 2009

Toppenish tries anti-gang injunctions



TOPPENISH -- Getting rid of gangbangers by challenging their right to dress or act like gangbangers. It worked in California now Toppenish Police Department is moving ahead with a plan the attorney general is also pushing in Olympia.

Toppenish's gang problem has plagued the city for years.

"Once you get gangs they're not quick to go away you have to learn to enforce and deal with the problem," says Chief Adam Diaz.

There have been more than 260 gang incidents so far this year that's everything from graffiti, felony assaults, even shootings. While gang activity has simmered, there is no question it will boil over again.

"It looks bad on the restaurant because it's a family restaurant and the side it's all tagged," says Jose Gatica, store always getting tagged.

All you have to do is drive through Toppenish to see the effect gang members are having on the city. Jose Gatica says Las Palomas restaurant is tagged at least three times every month and it's been going over for over a year now.

But Toppenish is looking into a new way of dealing with gang members involved in criminal activity, it's called civil injunctions. Think of it a list of do's and don'ts for documented gang members. Gangbangers who loiter, tag, display gang colors, break curfews or even hang with other gang members would find themselves in the back seat of a cruiser.

"Officers based on observation can move forward and take enforcement action so what it does is shields the public from getting involved," says Chief Diaz.

Chief Adam Diaz says the biggest problem with getting gang members behind bars is getting witnesses to cooperate, and fear has been an effective weapon. City leaders in Toppenish are convinced civil injunctions would allow them to turn that weapon back on the gangs.
http://www.kimatv.com/news/local/64460082.html

1 comment: