California Governor Schwarzenegger Commits CHP Support in Response to Oakland Gang Violence

08/07/2007 -- California Governor Schwarzenegger today committed additional California Highway Patrol officers to patrol in Oakland in response to a recent spike in homicides and a request from Mayor Ron Dellums. The Governor’s response effort is consistent with his California Gang Reduction, Intervention and Prevention Program (CalGRIP) announced in May to implement a statewide strategy to fight gang activity and violence.

“The violence in Oakland is absolutely unacceptable and represents a serious threat to innocent people -- we must do everything we can to eliminate that threat. The California Highway Patrol is assigning additional officers to work with local law enforcement officials to bolster their presence on the street and increase efforts to combat gang violence,” said Governor Schwarzenegger. “Mayor Dellums is working with my administration and the local authorities to quickly address this escalating problem.”

“Today’s action is consistent with my anti-gang initiative which largely relies on the state budget. Unfortunately the budget stalemate threatens this initiative’s implementation, but as I have said, I will do everything in my power to prevent impacts to our public safety programs.”

Governor Schwarzenegger was joined by Mayor Dellums in May when he announced the program in Oakland. CalGRIP proposes to target more than $48 million in state and federal funding toward local anti-gang efforts, including job training, education and intervention programs, and will give law enforcement the tools to closely track gang leaders both inside state prisons and when they are released on parole. CalGRIP combines funding from different programs and directs them toward intervention, suppression and prevention.

CalGRIP increases CHP support for police and sheriffs. Under the program, additional California Highway Patrol officers will rotate through 90-day deployments in High Intensity Gang Areas. These resources are provided through the CHP’s Project IMPACT and will be paid for by overtime costs in CHP’s Tactical Alert Response Fund.

In July, Governor Schwarzenegger signed SB 271 to give prosecutors more tools in the fight against gangs. Also in July, he signed AB 104 to give city attorneys the tools they need to pursue gang injunctions and two other anti-gang measures to assist cities in curbing the source of income that funds gang activity, SB 706 and AB 924.

Over the past several months the Governor has met with mayors, law enforcement, faith-based and community organizations, local officials and legislators to discuss how communities across the state are fighting gangs and what resources they need to strengthen their success. At every meeting the Governor heard about the same problems: lack of coordination between state and local agencies and programs, lack of funding and lack of a comprehensive approach to anti-gang efforts.

Source: California Governor

Bookmark/Search this post with:

 •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •    •