Custom Search

Friday, May 01, 2009

St. Paul police get ahead of the gangs even before Cinco de Mayo's start

Please click onto the COMMENTS for the story.

posted by Bob at Friday, May 01, 2009

5 Comments:

Blogger Bob said...

Efforts to keep the peace at Cinco de Mayo began before festival's start
By Mara H. Gottfried
mgottfried@pioneerpress.com
Updated: 04/30/2009 11:31:41 PM CDT

Officers from the department's gang unit talked to the gangsters about not marking over the graffiti with their own gang signs, which could up the ante in a conflict. The city covered over the original graffiti, and the other gang hadn't tagged the area as of Thursday afternoon, said Sgt. Kevin Moore, a gang investigator.

It's all part of the police department's "gang suppression" in advance of the Cinco de Mayo festival that starts today.

And it's something St. Paul police have been doing for years before most warm-weather festivals in the city.

Gang officers spend time on the streets, talking to gang members and getting information about what rivalries might be brewing, Moore said.

"They're the voice for the underlying issues in the gang world," said officer Jenn Corcoran, who is assigned to the gang unit. "It can't just be the day of — you have to find solutions ahead of time."

Although rumors usually swirl before Cinco about the potential for problems, there has been no major violence at the festival that draws about 100,000, and there's no reason to think things will be different this year, Moore said.

"For the number of people that attend the event, it's very safe," he said. "My family comes down there. That's proof in the pudding."

A shooting last year occurred after Cinco ended, though it stemmed from a confrontation
between two rival gangs during the festival. A 14- and 17-year-old were shot in a nearby residential neighborhood. Both survived, but the younger teen was critically injured. Three teens pleaded guilty in the case.

One new measure this year is a temporary injunction the city won last week against 10 alleged leaders of the Sureño 13 gang, banning them from taking part in gang-related activities in a "safety zone" on the West Side during and just after Cinco.

The seven adults and three juveniles named aren't allowed to associate with gang members, intimidate others, use gang signs or wear gang clothing. Violating the injunction is a misdemeanor.

Moore said officers have talked to some of the people subject to the temporary injunction, and they've told police they're not coming to Cinco. For those who do attend, as long as they're not involved in gang activity, "we're not out looking to make an example of any of them," Moore said. "You won't see any difference in how we police the event."

Officers from the St. Paul gang unit and Metro Gang Strike Force will be at Cinco, along with officers from other departments, Moore said.

It's not only Latino gangs police are watching: There have been fights among black gang members at previous Cinco festivals, and motorcycle-gang members have showed up wearing gang colors, Moore said.

"It transcends cultural boundaries," he said. "For any gang activity, there's just zero tolerance."

COMMUNITY LENDS HAND

Police will have other helpers during Cinco: community marshals and youth workers.

Enrique "Cha-Cho'' Estrada, community youth advocate at the Neighborhood House, said about 40 youth workers will be on the streets during the festival.

"They have experience working with kids, and they'll engage them and talk to them," he said.

Community marshals, meanwhile, are volunteers who are the "eyes and ears" for police, but they aren't asked to confront any trouble they see, said officer Ruby Diaz. Traveling in groups of four or five and wearing shirts that identify them as marshals, the groups are given police radios and asked to notify the police command post if they see a potential problem.

"If people are going to do illegal things, they're not going to do it when the police are watching," said Diaz, a school resource officer at Humboldt junior and senior high schools.

If the marshals spot a problem, officers will be sent to the area, and the marshals can retreat or stay to watch how police handle the situation, Diaz said.

The marshals program started with about 10 volunteers at Cinco five years ago and at least 40 are expected this year, Diaz said.

In the past, they've given police information that led to officers finding weapons and drugs, Diaz said. They've also spotted large groups of gang members entering the festival, and police have been able to stop them, she said.

Many marshals know the young people attending Cinco because they are teachers, recreation center staff or people who live in the area, Diaz said.

Armando Luna was a marshal last year and is doing it again this year, along with his younger brother, his brother's girlfriend and his godfather.

"I grew up on the West Side, and this is a way to help out," said Luna, now a Ramsey County sheriff's correctional officer. "Last year was great. We walked around and observed. Everything was peaceful. I think our presence helped people feel safe."

Mara H. Gottfried can be reached at 651-228-5262.

9:34 AM  
Anonymous Jason Lewis Tax Rally Capitol said...

Hope everyone goes to the Tax Rally today instead.http://www.taxcutrally.com/

10:05 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Bad P R and Swine Flu caused the turn out to be lower then it should.
But the turn out at the capital was great, and no illegal's were there.
The new Liberty Radio 1710 will be the TALK SHOW that will TALK about these Democrats and their way to ruin the nation,
They plan to talk about things that the others talk shows conceal, there will be a new man pulling in the truth about the Nation and Minnesota's Corruption.
They have plans to get the corruption in St.Paul's Government cleaned up.
The poor are poor enough, and the rich are tired of paying all the taxes.

You will start hearing the words

"Because I Can"!
&
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

7:22 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I stayed away because of Swine Flu.

8:28 AM  
Anonymous Liberty Radio 1710 said...

Go for the Diamond in the Rough http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Liberty+Radio+Talk+Show+1710&btnG=Google+Search

Thousands at Tax Rally HOOO YAAAAAA

NO NEW TAXES......

8:31 AM  

Post a Comment

<< Home