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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/24/2012 County of Kern City of Bakersfield Mike Maggard, Supervisor – Co-Chair Rudy Salas, Councilmember – Co-Chair Karen Goh, Supervisor Russell Johnson, Councilmember Staff: Richard Taylor Jacquie Sullivan, Councilmember Staff: Steven Teglia REGULAR MEETING OF THE JOINT CITY/COUNTY STANDING COMMITTEE TO COMBAT GANG VIOLENCE May 24, 2012 - 10:00 a.m. Bakersfield City Council Chambers 1501 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301 M I N U T E S ROLL CALL 1. Public Presentations Kim Albers from Garden Pathways distributed their annual report and noted some key statistics contained within in. Manuel Carisalez with Stay Focused Ministries distributed information and gave an update regarding their activities. He stated that there is to be a community outreach event on June 10, 2012. 2. Committee Member Announcements or Reports None 3. Bakersfield Police Department Update (Police Chief, Greg Williamson) Lieutenant Gomez, who oversees the gang unit, gave an update on the Safe Streets Partnership. There are 19 officers in 2 details that provide 7-day per week coverage. There have been 2 call-ins this year, and 2 more are scheduled. A newly implemented strategy is a night walk, where the community gathers together and walks through areas that have been subjected to gun violence. Committee member Goh stated that she participated in a night walk, and that it is a positive strategy. Committee Co-Chair Maggard asked if the agency has noticed any difference in the behavior and effectiveness of gangs now that some of the leaders are incarcerated. Lieutenant Gomez said that yes, there is a difference. Joint City – County Standing Committee to Combat Gang Violence May 24, 2012 Page 2 Lieutenant Mullins spoke about grants the Department has received, and the use of the funding to benefit intervention and prevention programs. The Department applied for the funds under the CalGrip Grant in 2009. Of the $382,000 received, $182,000 was retained for suppression efforts. The remainder was allocated towards prevention and intervention efforts. In 2010, $200,000 was received, $59,000 of which was retained by the Department for suppression and $141,000 was delegated to other agencies for prevention and suppression. All of these grant monies require a 100% match, which is supplied by the Department. The Department received a grant from the State in the amount of $132,000. This amount will be allocated to organizations who apply with the understanding that they will continue to commit to the Safe Streets Partnership. The grant will be awarded in increments up to $5,000 each. The information will be available by June 4, 2012. Committee Co-Chair Salas asked that the City Council and Kern County Board of Supervisors be informed about additional night walks that will take place. Chief Williamson provided some information regarding a grant for a license plate reader that will help with the increasing numbers of auto thefts. This problem is not gang related. 4. Probation Department Update (Probation Supervisor, Jeremy Roberts) Probation Supervisor Ryan Wegis reported that the Department has seen an increase in caseload by approximately 1,400 offenders as a result of AB 109. The last report indicated that about 433 of those probationers had some type of gang affiliation. The adult division assesses each individual to determine their risk to reoffend. They are referred to either the day reporting center for services or Employers Training Resources for employment guidance. Committee member Johnson asked if Employers Training Resources may be able to expand to deal with the needs of realignment. Committee Co-Chair Maggard replied that they are the victims of narrowing resources the same as other agencies. Committee member Goh suggested that all agencies partner together to apply for grants that might offer employment training. Chief Williamson stated that Employers Training Resources is a committed participant in the Safe Streets Partnership. 5. Kern County Sheriff’s Department Update (Deputy, Richard Hudson) This item was heard second. Deputy Hudson showed a PowerPoint and gave a report detailing the efforts and responsibilities of the Department’s gang unit for cases in the metropolitan Bakersfield area, not within City limits. There has been a reduction in violent crime in Joint City – County Standing Committee to Combat Gang Violence May 24, 2012 Page 3 County areas, and it is a direct result of targeting individuals, and working with other groups and organizations to bring those individuals to trial. There has been a more effective use of time and resources. A destabilization within the gang organizations is seen now that the main shot callers have been incarcerated. However, there are still some veteran gang members who are not actively involved in criminal activities, but still teach younger members how to avoid arrest and prosecution. With the reorganization of AB 109, more federal prisoners are now in County facilities. It is something that should be looked at. 6. Q & A / Discussion Committee Co-Chair Maggard stated that the cooperative effort of all local law enforcement agencies is successful. He would also like to see the same joint energy applied towards crime prevention efforts such as Neighborhood Watch. Chief Williamson said that that can be done. Committee member Goh asked where the newly discharged prisoners are being released and when the first point of contact is to discuss potential services. Probation Supervisor Wegis said that most are typically transported by bus to the Greyhound Station. They then have two days to report to the Probation Department for evaluation. Committee member Sullivan asked if they are evaluated before they are released from prison, and if they are provided any money before the reach their destination. Probation Supervisor Wegis said that prison authorities let local authorities know the offender’s name, where they are to reside and who they will be residing with, or if they will be transient. They are provided gate money, the amount of which is based upon any job they may have held in prison. Committee member Johnson stated that some downtown property owners may be interested in establishing an intake center near the Greyhound Station. Committee Co-Chair Salas thanked everyone for coming. ADJOURNMENT AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (Government Code Section 54953.2) Disabled individuals who need special assistance to attend or participate in a meeting of the Joint City/County Standing Committee to Combat Gang Violence may request assistance at the C ity Manager’s Office, 1600 Truxtun Avenue, Bakersfield, or by calling (661) 326-3751. Every effort will be made to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Requests for assistance should be made five (5) working days in advance wherever possible.