San Jose Police Redeploys Officers Amid Increasing Violence
SAN JOSE (KCBS) — The San Jose Police Department is redeploying officers and freeing up other staff in order to increase its presence on the streets, during one of the bloodiest periods in the city's history. Eight people have been killed in the past 11 days.
Police Chief Chris Moore admits that gang members have been emboldened by recent cuts in police staffing. According to the San Jose Mercury News, Moore said he would redeploy 27 officers and four sergeants on a variety of assignments.
Moore said they are putting additional officers on the streets thanks to $800,000 in overtime pay approved by the city. But Moore again rejected calls for assistance from the California Highway Patrol.
KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:
Mayor Chuck Reed said it's now time for the community to get involved. "Help us find people who are committing crimes and help us put them in jail where they belong," Reed said.
Several of the recent homicides have been gang-related according to police. Jerry Amaro, a former gang member with Victory Outreach Ministries, said much of this violence is due to conflicts between Norteno and Sureno street gangs.
"What I feel and I've been hearing is that it's retaliation from the Surenos because they're overpowered by the Nortenos," Amaro said.
However, Moore said so far they have seen fewer gang related murders compared to last year.
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