"We Must Stay the Course"

"We Must Stay the Course"

A message to the community from Police Chief Ronald Davis

The recent shooting incidents have increased levels of fear within the community and caused many residents to reflect to the '90s when East Palo Alto was dubbed the "murder capital" of the United States. As a community, it is good that we reflect on the past because there are many lessons to take from both our successes and failures. However, we must guard against our reflection turning into a level of fear that negatively changes our lives or diminishes our resolve. We must “stay the course” and continue to implement effective short-term and long-term violence reduction strategies, such as community policing and the recommendations outlined by the East Palo Alto Crime Reduction Task Force. If we stop now, the criminals have won.

I know many people feel frustrated and wonder if their efforts are making a difference. Yes, they are! Because of your efforts, the City of East Palo Alto still serves as a national model – a beacon of hope – for many cities facing increasing levels of violence. The Police Department has developed a long-term “Community Policing and Crime Reduction Plan”, which will be presented to the City Council after the August recess. The plan is comprehensive and focuses on three primary components: Enforcement, Education and Prevention. All city departments will contribute to crime-reduction and work in collaboration with the community. In the meantime, many aggressive and positive steps have been taken by the Department since June to reduce violence. These measures include:

Short-Term Measures

Expanded the “Metro” Team to one sergeant and four officers to enhance enforcement efforts. To date, the Metro Team has made over 130 felony arrests and conducted over 300 probation and parole searches.
Assigned two additional investigators to the Regional Investigations Bureau (RIB) to reduce caseload and increase case clearance rates.

Obtained assistance from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) to implement Operation Impact. The CHP will assign one sergeant and six officers to patrol the City starting August 17, 2005.

Obtained assistance from the California Department of Justice to conduct a three-year comprehensive violent crime analysis. Future staff deployment will be based, in large part, on this report. The analysis report will be submitted to Police Department this week.

Initiated a “call-reduction” plan to reduce the number of calls for service and increase the availability of patrol officers to engage in problem-solving and enforcement programs.

Conducted 64 compliance checks of all Sex Offender Registrants (290 PC) in East Palo Alto. 13 out of the 64 have been deemed noncompliant. The Department is coordinating with the District Attorney and United States Marshal to apprehend and prosecute the violators.

Obtained assistance from the Drug Enforcement Agency to conduct mid-level narcotics investigations.

Partnered with Probation Department to enhance supervision of probationers. A probation officer works directly with the Police Metro team at least one day a week.

Partnered with Parole to increase supervision and monitoring over the 250 parolees in East Palo Alto.

Obtained assistance from the San Mateo County Crime Suppression Team to increase their enforcement efforts.

Long-Term Measures

Developed “East Palo Alto Community Policing and Crime Reduction Plan”. The plan focuses on prevention, education and enforcement, and involves all city departments and the community. The Plan will be submitted to City Council after the August recess.

Collaborated with the East Palo Alto Crime Reduction Task Force (spearheaded by San Mateo County Supervisor Rose Jacobs Gibson) and One East Palo Alto to implement prevention programs, such as summer job programs for youth, job training and at-risk youth mentoring.

Partnered with “Crime Stoppers” to provide rewards for information leading to the arrests of criminals. Crime Stoppers is a not-for-profit that provides rewards based on donations. There is no cost to the Department.

Met with the United States Attorney to garner support for federal prosecutions of Gang members.

Applied for the Project Safe Neighborhood Grant ($200,000). This is an anti-gun violence grant that focuses on federal prosecution and community collaboration and education.

Initiated the “East Palo Alto’s Most Wanted” program and obtained assistance from the United States Marshal Service to serve warrants. The Department has identified key wanted criminals we believe are involved in on-going violence in the City. The United States Marshal will focus on these individuals using equipment and resources not available to the Department.

Enhanced code enforcement efforts to include a street-by-street identification of all gang “tagging” and graffiti. The Department will coordinate with the Public Works Department, PG&E, Pacific Bell, and community-based organizations and businesses to remove graffiti. The Department is also working with San Mateo County Chiefs Association to initiate a countywide anti-gang initiative.

Met with School Principals to address truancy issues.

Launched the Police Chaplain Program (initiated under Interim Police Chief Steve Belcher). The Chaplains will host a Bay Area summit on the role of the faith community in reducing violence in September.

The City Council has made public safety its top priority and passed a budget that allows the Police Department to fill police officer vacancies and implement crime-reduction strategies. Additionally, the City Council has approved a “Public Safety” ballot measure to be placed on the November ballot. If this measure passes, funds can be made available to strengthen the plan and enhance public safety in East Palo Alto.

As the new Police Chief, I am committed to working with the community to reduce violence and enhance public safety.

Respectfully,

Chief Ronald Davis