Editorial: Coordinated approach needed to curb gang violence
Nov 6, 2009
Solving the problem of gang violence will take cooperation from everyone
The spate of gang violence that hit last month reveals a regional problem that will not be solved without getting everyone involved.
There is no easy answer to solve the problem of gang violence. Only through the combined efforts of parents, schools, churches, community leaders and law enforcement will gang violence begin to subside. Police need to continue cracking down on gang members, local nonprofits and churches need to reach out, and parents must remain actively involved in their childrens' lives and provide the love and the discipline they need. It's going to take cooperation between everyone.
Police are doing the best they can with what the community gives them
Given the resources - the fewest officers per capita of any city in the county - Morgan Hill police do the best they can. They work with surrounding law enforcement agencies, including state parole and county probation agents, checking with known gang members to ensure they are obeying the terms of their release. A parole sweep Oct. 10, eight days after three separate violent gang-related incidents ended in the shooting death of Juan Jose Arellano, 24, resulted in the arrests if six people. The police department also teaches a Gang Resistance Education and Training program in the 4th and 6th grades and the Parent Project, which teaches parents ways to keep children away from gangs and drugs. They also have two officers assigned to the Crime Suppression Team and three officers assigned to Morgan Hill schools.
Partnerships are needed to help reduce gang activity, violence
Now, comes the hard part. Someone needs to step up, galvanize the community and help create the framework of an organization that can help keep kids from joining gangs. This organization needs to include all stakeholders. It has to be driven by compassion with the goal of making Morgan Hill a safe place to live. Police need to walk neighborhoods with gang problems, talking to residents about how to deal with gang activity and establishing relationships; nonprofits, churches and the business community need to create partnerships with police; and finally, parents need to get involved and learn to recognize the warning signs and discuss the dangers of gangs with their children.
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