13B - COUNCIL CTM RPT- PUBLIC SAFETY

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3. Gang Injunction Discussion Committee Chairman Benavides introduces Chief Rojas. Chief Rojas thanks members of the community for coming out to express their opinions. Chief Rojas states that community- oriented policing is at the forefront of the Police Department, and invites anyone who has any questions relating to any matter of law enforcement to contact him directly. He introduces Commander Tammy Franks. Commander Tammy Franks, Crimes - Against - Persons Division, opens up the discussion regarding the gang injunction. Cmdr. Franks has two handouts: a graph titled "Crime in Santa Ana's Safety Zone" which shows the numbers of crime types (battery /assault with a deadly weapon, robbery, weapons violations, narcotic violations, probation/parole violations, SAMC violations, auto theft, disturbing the peace, malicious mischief, and trespassing) prior to and following injunctions. There is also a narrative titled "Operation Safe Neighborhoods, Santa Nita Gang Injunction." Commander Franks gives an update on the Santa Nita gang injunction and injunctions in general. The definition of an injunction is that it is a civil lawsuit against a criminal street gang and its members based on a legal theory of a public nuisance. The allegation is that the conduct and activities of the gang within a defined area interfere with a community. There are 12 gang injunctions in Orange County; Santa Ana has one, the Santa Nita injunction which was established in 2006. Commander Franks gave an overview of the Santa Nita injunction by describing the safety zone, the square mileage it covers, the boundaries, the grids. She further explains how the gang injunction works after it has been signed by a judge in court. The injunction now becomes a court order. The injunction will name certain individuals who will be served with the paperwork and describes prohibited behavior which must occur within the safety zone, a public place, in order for police to enforce it. Commander Franks explains that since the Santa Nita gang injunction's implementation in 2006, it has effectively reduced gang - related part I serious crimes by 24 percent. This was compared to one year before the injunction was implemented and two years after. It has reduced these Part I crimes by 60 percent when compared to current crime trends. There have been 155 arrests to date and 82 criminal cases filed the OCDA. The injunction has been effective in reducing crime and is just one tool that the Police Department uses. It is a collaborative effort between the Police Department, the Orange County District Attorney's Office, and the U.S. Department of Justice. Assistant District Attorney Tracy Rinauro, the lead district attorney who worked on the Santa Nita gang injunction, speaks to the audience. She states that there is no simple solution to the gang problem, but she is excited to see that there are so many people who have come out to speak. ADA Rinauro states that gang violence has to stop and that the young people, children, and residents of Santa Ana should not be killed because of it. She reads sealed depositions that 13B -5