Gang Injunction in Duarte...

Wes88 Tue Mar 17, 2009 7:33 pm

Cities split over gang injunction
By Nathan McIntire, Staff Writer
Posted: 02/01/2009 07:06:56 AM PST

DUARTE - Officials have declined Monrovia's invitation to participate in a gang injunction aimed at stemming illegal activity in areas in and around the two cities.
Leaders from both cities sat down last summer to discuss the idea of a gang injunction against three local gangs - the Du Roc Crips, Duarte Eastside and Monrovia Nuevo Varrio. Feuding between the gangs, which some officials have said is racially motivated, resulted in several fatal shootings in early 2008.

Over the past few months, however, Duarte decided to go in another direction, officials there said.

"Unfortunately the city of Duarte does not seem to want to participate in the gang injunction," Monrovia Mayor Rob Hammond said. "I don't agree with it."

Duarte Mayor John Fasana said his city prefers other methods in addition to enforcement strategies to handle gang activity.

"Right now we think there's other alternatives to pursue," he said, adding that he would prefer to see more prevention, such as increased community outreach and job training.

While leaders from the two cities still plan to work together closely to curb gang violence, Fasana said he isn't sure gang injunctions work.

"Some people would say they are effective, others would say that it hurts cooperation in the communities and it's too easy to get put on the list," he said.

Duarte has not ruled out the option of a gang injunction, however, he added.

"We are going to watch and learn from Monrovia," Fasana said. "If it's going to provide the benefits that we're not seeing at this point, then we're going to move in that direction."
Gang injunctions make it illegal for gang members to engage in specified activities within designated "safe zones."

But extensive documentation on each individual gang member's criminal history and their ties to organized crime must be gathered by police and submitted to a judge for approval before an injunction can be issued.

People on the injunction list can be barred from associating with other gang members, drinking in public, flashing gang signs and engaging in other activities in places where gang members are known to congregate, such as parks and street corners.

"It just breaks up their ability to congregate," Hammond said. "Where it has been put into place, it has been very effective."

Hammond said the gang injunction is simply one of many tools Monrovia will use to combat gang activity.

"It is not the silver bullet," he said. "Anything that can be done legally to disrupt the pattern is beneficial to the neighborhood."

An injunction could be in place in Monrovia this summer, Hammond said. The city is still gathering all the necessary documentation and has not yet brought it to a judge, he said.

nathan.mcintire@sgvn.com