Sunday, January 17, 2010

Yakima County Gang Commission- Ganging up on Gangs

It may take a village to raise a child. But when it comes to putting a lid on gang violence, it's going to take more than one.

That's the goal of the recently announced Yakima County Gang Commission. Its expressed goal is laudable: To create a safe and prosperous county by banding residents together in a coordinated effort to reduce gang violence.

The commission is the brainchild of county Commissioner Kevin Bouchey and has the full backing of Yakima County Sheriff Ken Irwin and Prosecuting Attorney James Hagarty. The commission now wants to gather the support of the county's 14 cities and towns.

The commission's logic is irresistible.

Too often, a town or city will become a battleground where warring gang members leave in their wake death and graffiti. Residents become alarmed and charge ahead with a laundry list of ideas: build a youth center, develop block watch programs, add extra law enforcement officers. But soon, the enthusiasm wanes. Volunteers become tired or distracted. Applications for grants go unanswered. Attitudes of despair and defeat creep in.

If the commission has its way, this scenario would be a thing of the past.

Mirrored after a successful anti-gang program in San Diego, Yakima County's commission would develop, among others, these initiatives:

* Set up a directory of resources, agencies and community programs that are aimed at preventing gang violence.

* Create a Web site, including an interactive database, to help communities track current gang trends. The site would allow people to download pictures of graffiti and share other information.

* Promote best and most promising practices that communities are using to fight the spread of gangs.

* Offer technical assistance and training to residents and organizations.

In addition to providing a clearinghouse for information and practical gang-prevention methods, the commission also wants to increase the success rate for securing grant money from both public and private sources. Too often, cities like Sunnyside, Toppenish and Grandview, which all have active anti-gang programs, compete against each other when seeking funds to fight gangs.

Under the commission's auspices, that task would be coordinated and the chances for success greatly enhanced -- at least in theory. Already a $500,000 federal grant has been approved to help in the commission's efforts.

Without question, gang violence has taken root in the Yakima Valley. Last year, at least eight of the county's more than two dozen homicides were traced to gang involvement. With 2,500 gang members identified in the county, the commission clearly has its work cut out.

That's why cities and towns should support the commission. The task of preventing gang violence requires many hands and constant vigilance. No village can win this fight alone.


* Members of the Yakima Herald-Republic editorial board are Michael Shepard, Bob Crider, Spencer Hatton and Karen Troianello.

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/01/15/ganging-up-on-gangs-get-on-board

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