SANTA CRUZ, Calif.- "We're going to get creative."
Sound familiar? How about this one?
"It's the state putting it on the backs of the local agencies."
But this time, Watsonville police Chief Manny Solano said the state is cutting into your public safety. When the Bureau of Narcotics Enforcement pulls its involvement in 34 of 52 regional task forces in the state, it's taking a huge chunk of personnel and resources with it.
"We're going to stand to lose over $300,000," that's more than 70% of the Santa Cruz County Anti-Crime Team's budget.
Most of these officers fly below the radar, they're at the boardwalk next to you in line, they tell an officer in Watsonville which bad guys they see hanging out together; or they're downtown chasing leads on a serial rapist. Either way they won't be in a marked car, but do have a huge impact on your community.
"You have a drug house that is wreaking havoc on a neighborhood," said Solano.
Or in major drug busts that lead straight to major gangs like Operation Garlic Press in and around Gilroy focusing on norteno operations. Also, Operation Groundhog in and around Watsonville focusing on sureno operations.
"It's important to have a team that works together closely, that's well-trained, well-equipped and at a moments notice can come together," said Solano.
That's why each agency in SCCACT will go back to their budgets and see what they can do to keep the team together.
"There should be no fear that there's going to be any less effort to identify, arrest, prosecute and go after those that are responsible for not only drug cases but any serious crime."
Of the 105 arrests made during Operation Garlic Press, 22 were from San Benito County alone. That regional task force serves Hollister, Gilroy and Morgan Hill and is losing BNE support. They meet next week to see if it can still survive locally.
As for Monterey County, it will lose its BNE resources before it even got them.
After Operation Knockout, the biggest gang and drug bust in the county's history, the state made a commitment to bring in a regional task force.
Now, that won't happen. Monterey County said it's set to keep its local gang and drug task forces through a grant for three more years.
Some food for thought on the regional task forces community impact:
SCCACT Stats Jan 2011-present
ARRESTS 177
FIREARMS 47
HEROIN 759 GRAMS
COCAINE 1,200 GRAMS
CRYSTAL METH 17.5 POUNDS
Assisted Outside Agencies Stats Jan 2011-present
ARRESTS 207
FIREARMS 207
HEROIN 1,010 GRAMS
COCAINE 7 POUNDS
CRYSTAL METH 468 POUNDS
