Gang-fighting plan to face skeptics

Costa Mesa Police Chief Christopher Shawkey is seeking the City Council’s official stamp of approval for a gang-fighting plan he first presented in March, but council members may not endorse all of the plan’s elements.

The city has seven criminal street gangs with 300 members, about half of whom are considered active. The police department’s multi-pronged plan suggests adding two more gang officers, using surveillance cameras in crime-prone areas, and mounting prevention efforts such as a partnership with the Newport-Mesa Unified School District.

A $65,000 grant for the school district’s Project ASK likely will face the most questions from the council. Shawkey has said the prevention component is key to having a well-rounded gang plan, but some council members remain skeptical.

In January the council rejected the same proposal in a 3-2 vote. Councilman Eric Bever — who voted against the school grant along with Mayor Allan Mansoor and Councilwoman Wendy Leece — wrote in a commentary published April 5 that “past successes in eradicating gang problems prove that tough enforcement alone will get the job done.”

Because opposition is expected, City Manager Allan Roeder said, separate votes will be taken on the prevention grant, the overall gang initiative, and a daytime curfew for truancy enforcement, which may be discussed at a later study session.

“There’s no one part of the gang initiative that is dependent on all other parts,” Roeder said. “This is not a unique issue in terms of the council not wholeheartedly endorsing the entire package.”

Several residents spoke against the daytime curfew last month, and the council may not want to take such a step.

“It’s not inconceivable that they may just say, ‘We’re not interested in a truancy ordinance,’” Roeder said.

He said it’s not extraordinary for the council to consider rejecting some public safety recommendations from its head law enforcement official, and he pointed out that many of the suggestions already are in place.

“If you look at the whole range of efforts identified in the gang initiative report, the fact is that virtually all of those, with one or two exceptions, have been approved by the council and have been approved unanimously,” he said.