Joining forces to combat gang crimes in South County

UPDATE 2/12/16 6 PM:
Local law enforcement agencies in Monterey County are seeing success in the fight against gang crimes. Last summer, Monterey County Sheriff Steve Bernal launched the South Monterey County Violence Suppression Collaboration after what he saw was a disconnect between the Sheriff’s Office and the four South County communities.

The collaboration is made up of multiple agencies, spanning from the four South County communities, the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office and some state agencies. Bernal says the only way to break apart the gangs is to build up a strong presence.

“How many deaths have occurred because of the drug trade in Monterey County?” asked Bernal.

Curbing the drug trade and stopping the violence sometimes associated with it has been the goal of the SMCVSC since it was launched last summer.

“The only way you can get the crime rate down, I think, is going and being proactive, aggressively going out after the known gang members or known criminals, particularly in South County, and seizing all their assets,” Bernal said.

To date, the collaboration has worked on 22 cases, made 35 arrests, recovered 35 guns, approximately $40,000 and more than 11 pounds of drugs. Bernal says he can’t even imagine how many homicides have been stopped by the seizures.

The Soledad Police Department is one of the participating agencies. Chief Eric Sills says it’s been refreshing to have a continued partnership with other agencies to combat gangs. He says joining forces sends a message to both criminals and citizens.

“We’re going to be working it and that we’re not just looking the other way. We’re going to take care of business, if we have to,” Chief Sills said. “I think for the citizens, the law abiding citizens, it also sends a very good message that we’re collaborating together with larger agencies and smaller agencies all coming together to try and work as partners to combat this type of gang activities in our cities.”

The work doesn’t always focus on south Monterey County. One bust brought authorities to a home in the Royal Oaks area, where a fugitive out of Fresno County was arrested. But they say there’s always more work to be done.

“What we need to do better as law enforcement is continually work together, because the more we work together, the bigger we are,” Bernal said.

He would like to expand this collaborative effort to the entire county, including the Peninsula. However, the biggest obstacle many of these departments face is an officer shortage.

ORIGINAL POST:

The South Monterey County Violence Suppression Collaboration team has been busy since they came together to crack down on violence last summer.

The collaboration is made up of several police departments, CHP and the Monterey County Sheriff’s Office.

KION checked in with the collaboration to find out what they’ve been up to. So far, they’ve been on 22 cases, made 35 arrests and seized 35 guns, $40,000 in cash, and lots of drugs.

KION’s Mariana Hicks will have more details tonight.