ANAHEIM : Grant for Community Policing Pays Off

Cops Ahead, a grant program administered by the U.S. Department of Justice, is being praised by Anaheim Police Chief Randall W. Gaston for boosting community-based policing efforts in the city.

The $675,000 federal grant, which was formally accepted by the City Council at its Aug. 22 meeting, will be matched by $1.7 million in city funds over the next three fiscal years.

“It made it possible for us to add nine officers, and that helps,” Gaston said.

Anaheim hired nine officers in April and May, which allowed community policing efforts to be strengthened in the central and western portions of the city.

Gaston said this latest effort, along with the hiring of 22 officers in July of last year, has helped bring about a reduction in gang problems, robberies, assaults, burglaries and other serious crimes.

“Thus far this year, we’re seeing a reduction in gang activity and in terms of violent crimes,” Gaston said. “So we hope that trend holds for the rest of the year.”

Statistics still are being compiled for 1995, but Gaston said that serious crimes were down 14% in 1994 compared to the previous year. He attributes this drop to the increased number of officers, support from code enforcement and other city departments, and the cooperation of residents and business owners.

“It’s not just the Police Department alone,” Gaston said. “We’ve had some very productive partnerships that have developed. Unless all those ingredients came together, we would not see the improvements that are now evident.

“For community policing to work, it has to be a partnership, not a solo effort.”

The purpose of community-based policing is to bring together law enforcement officers, residents, property owners and business people in a united fight against crime.