San Jose Police Redeployment Helps Stem Rising Violence
SAN JOSE (KCBS) — San Jose police are crediting stepped up gang enforcement efforts, with a recent decrease in violence in the city. But the city may not have the funding to continue those efforts into the next year.
Officer Jose Garcia describes the strategy as "All gangs, all the time". Efforts include officer redeployment and working overtime. He says some investigators have been moved back to patrol in order to focus on gang hot spots.
Since the redeployment took effect there have been no homicides or serious shootings.
KCBS' Matt Bigler Reports:
"It's difficult to quantify it, but we can say that we feel strongly that these changes within the department have influenced the crime rate, specifically violent crime," Garcia said.
The city has approved paying officers overtime, but only through the end of the year.
Meanwhile, the city is working to rebuild the understaffed police department.
City Councilmember Pierluigi Oliverio says there was over 2,000 applicants for the last two police academies.
"We have a lot of people that want to pursue a career here in the San Jose Police Department, so we are going to hire them as we can," he said.
San Jose's murder rate stands at 33 compared to 29 this time last year.
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