Watsonville looks for solution to gang crime ‘crisis’
The Watsonville Police Department described the situation as “tense times” as gang crime spikes to a level not seen in years. The department presented information on efforts to suppress the problem in a special meeting Wednesday night.
The department plans to hold another meeting next Tuesday on prevention efforts. City leaders, police and community members are calling for a solution to a problem that’s out of hand.
The resounding message at Watsonville City Hall is that something needs to change quickly in order to squelch a growing gang crime crisis situation. One community member, with life-long experience in dealing with gangs, said he and people like him are willing to step up.
“Kids are dying out here you know so there needs to be some way for someone to reach the youth out here you know. And unfortunately these kids they’re not going to listen to the cops to P.O.’s. I’ve been through everything Santa Cruz does for juveniles,” said 28-year-old Ismael Valdiva.
Valdiva bravely stepped up to the podium at Wednesday night’s special city council meeting with a chilling message for a room full of people looking for answers.
“Unfortunately in the gang community, the violence is like a badge of honor,” Valdiva said.
Last year, the city saw 10 homicides, half of which are unsolved. Officers said they’ve seen an increase in gang violence since the last big suppression effort in 2013. Valdiva said the city needs to create a program with former gang-members and street credibility.
“But I didn’t have no one giving me real advice. Unfortunately gang members they, everybody like they follow violence and they look up to violence and bad things are encouraged,” Valvida said.
Former probation officer Erin Nelson-Serrano said the city needs to follow through with those who are willing to risk their lives to save others.
“I think what we need is to really formalize that kind of a program so that people can you have a legitimate living by doing that,” Serrano said.
Valdiva is now out of prison and has a job to support his family. But he’s worried about his 16-year-old brother, who he said is in a gang and faces the same struggles.
“It takes acutely going to prison and I went twice, the first time I was like 19 when I went in, I only did two years and I got out. I went back for six more years right away,” Valdiva said.
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office said it’s dedicating an additional gang task force deputy in Watsonville, because of the spike in crime. Watsonville Police said it’s working very closely with the sheriff’s office, because it’s a county-wide issue.
