Enhancing Local Law Enforcement Through Gang Suppression

The Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program, administered by the Office of Justice Programs' (OJP's) Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), furthers the Department's mission by assisting state and local jurisdictions in improving the criminal justice system and assisting communities in preventing drug abuse and crime. In fiscal year 2007, the Edward Byrne Memorial Discretionary Grants Program will focus on funding local, regional, and national efforts within six major categories: 1) targeting violent crime; 2) preventing crime and drug abuse; 3) enhancing local law enforcement; 4) enhancing local courts; 5) enhancing local corrections and offender reentry; and 6) facilitating justice information sharing. All categories combat, address, or otherwise respond to precipitous or extraordinary increases in crime, or in a type or types of crime.

The San Diego Police Department (SDPD) will use Fiscal Year 2007 Byrne Discretionary Targeting Violent Crime Initiative funding to conduct an intensive, multi-faceted project targeting identified communities, gangs, and individuals in order to reduce or eliminate criminal street gang activities in targeted areas throughout the San Diego community. Partnering with the San Diego Gang Commission, the San Diego District Attorney, and the SDPD Gang and Narcotics Units, the SDPD will fund officer overtime for targeted operations, and will purchase surveillance and tactical equipment, a surveillance vehicle and space, and undercover rental vehicles. Gang abatement tactics that are comprehensive and adaptable to changing conditions, including surveillance, undercover operations, sweeps, directed patrols, and follow-up investigations will be utilized to target and disrupt gang activities and to reduce gang power and influence in vulnerable communities.

CA/CF