San Jose Police Focus On Gang Suppression In New Department Direction
SAN JOSE (KCBS)— Faced with reduced staffing and a double digit increase in violent crime over last year, the San Jose Police Department have announced a new department direction. They will place more emphasis on gang suppression and customer service officials said.
SJPD Spokesman Jason Dwyer said Chief Larry Esquivel has made it clear that he wants "happy customers and happy community members that are satisfied" and feel like they've been receiving a professional level of service.
SJPD Announces New Core Priorities With Emphasis On Gang Suppression
"In the first quarter of 2013 our violent gang-related incidents in San Jose have fallen 28 percent. That is remarkable. If you look at the trend over 2011 and 2012 and we had 18 gang-related homicides in both of those years and we had a number of gang-related assaults that were gang-related. We had basic gang wars going on," said Dwyer.
The five new core priorities under the acronym RCITI, pronounced 'our city', stands for respect, crime reduction, investing in employees, transparency and accountability and innovation for the future.
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