| For Immediate Release
|
Susan Kang Schroeder Chief of Staff Office: 714-347-8408 Cell: 714-292-2718 Farrah Emami |
LAW ENFORCEMENT HOSTS POST-GANG INJUNCTION PARTY IN THE PARK “CELEBRATE & PARTICIPATE IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD”
ANAHEIM – Children and families are invited to attend “Celebrate & Participate in Your Neighborhood,” a family-friendly party in the park to celebrate the community taking back control of its parks and neighborhoods. The Anaheim Police Department (APD), City of Anaheim, and Orange County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) will host the event tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2010, from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Energy Field located at 1625 S. Ninth Street, Anaheim.
In July 2010, the eighth civil gang injunction in Orange County was made permanent against an Anaheim criminal street gang known to actively engage in criminal and nuisance activity within a 1.59 square-mile area in the City of Anaheim, now designated as the “Safety Zone.” Energy Field is located in the Safety Zone. Since the implementation of the injunction three months ago, serious violent crimes in the Safety Zone have reduced by 33 percent. This event is to celebrate the success of the gang injunction in creating a safer community by reducing gang crime and presence.
The community event will feature a DJ, an APD canine obedience and apprehension show, and activities for children including a book fair, arts and crafts, sports games, and face painting.
Attendees will have an opportunity to visit informational booths offering services to the community including Anaheim Community Development, Anaheim Family Justice Center, APD gang unit, Cops 4 Kids, Gang Reduction Intervention Partnership, OCDA bilingual community outreach, Project Say, and others.
Complimentary lunch will be served courtesy of Related Property Management and beverages were donated by Costco. Community members can also participate in an opportunity drawing to win bikes and helmets donated by Walmart, or $50 gift certificates donated by APD and the City of Anaheim Community Development Department. Event speakers will include Anaheim Police Chief John Welter and a representative from the OCDA. A Spanish interpreter will be available.
“The Orange County District Attorney’s Office is attacking the gang problem from every angle. We’re aggressively prosecuting gang members and gang cases, empowering neighborhoods through gang injunctions, and reaching out to children to keep them from joining gangs in the first place,” said District Attorney Tony Rackauckas. “This celebration in the park gives the community and law enforcement an opportunity to meet under positive circumstances in order to make a united front against gangs in the future.”
###