After three weeks without a shooting, the East Palo Alto Police Department Monday, June 10, announced that it would end the crime emergency it began last month to counter a sudden spate of gun violence.
“The crime emergency has ended, but our sense of urgency and resolve in stemming violence in our community has not,” Chief Ron Davis stated.
Police initiated the crime emergency order May 21 after a 15-year-old Jose Quinonez was killed in what police suspect was a gang-related shooting.
May had been particularly violent month for East Palo Alto — the city saw a surge of violence during which there were eight shootings in as many days and a brazen shooting in broad daylight that left six injured, at least two of whom were bystanders. The order aimed to double the number of officers in the field by allowing the department to cancel days off and make swift assignment changes.
The crackdown targeted the Norteno street gang, which police said was responsible for many of the shootings. As of May 29, police had made 27 arrests in the crackdown, 10 of which the department said were of Norteno gang members.
The announcement stated that overall crime is down 15 percent in the city this year, but since January there have been five homicides and 50 shootings. In 2012 there were 80 shootings and seven homicides, according to police.
Davis said there had been one fire-arm related incident during the three-week period without shootings, but the department suspects that it was self-inflicted.
Davis said the department would continue its programs to combat gang violence, including Operation Ceasefire, which organizes sit-downs with police and gang leaders; FIT Zones, in which East Palo Alto police play outdoor sports with community members; and Operation SMART, a multi-agency effort to fight gang violence.
In July it will begin to implement a program, funded by a $300,000 Department of Justice Smart Policing Initiative grant, that focuses on gun violence. The project will look at how police strategies have changed since the city began using the ShotSpotter system; seek to understand the nature and context of shootings in East Palo Alto and identify hot spots; and develop policing tactics to help prevent gunfire and develop targeted responses.
Come on, Just because there has been three weeks without a shooting, they want to call it quits. Let’s wait and see how long will be before we hear the shootings, perhaps one day or one week. Whey would they stop it if they claim that is working? Things are not going to be fixed in this three weeks, this should crime emergency should stay longer if not permanent.
They should not tell the gang members that the operation is over
let them think that it is still going on, but that is taking the overtime away, Humm, just a thought
I think that this kind of statement could prove to be extremely counterproductive. After all I can easily imagine lying low until the police stepp away, which is just three weeks later. MY feeling is that to truly impact this terrible situation the program either needs to be permanent or permanent if even at a somewhat lower level of staffing.
We have had 3 good weeks so we are going home makes no sense to me.
I should like though to acknowledge the good work that has been done by the PD during this time, my point is – keep it up.
This is sad … No matter what you do crime will not go down . but property prices will go up .. bay area is just out .. no space to grow everything stinks .. i am scared of even walking on streets ..