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Santa Ana City: Problem Statement: The Santa Ana Police Department proposes to include its entire jurisdictional boundaries for the purposes of this project. This decision is based on the belief that criminal street gangs do not honor jurisdictional boundaries. The city of Santa Ana is located approximately 45 miles southeast of Los Angeles and is the County Seat of Orange County. The city is the oldest organized community in the county and is the center of government services for a county of 2.5 million people. The community at large is recognized by 2000 Census data as the 52nd largest city in the nation, the ninth largest, second most densely populated city in California, and the youngest city in the nation, with a median age of 26.1 years. As a result of the impact of immigration, the city is the third most Hispanic populated community in the nation, by percentage of population, with approximately 76.1 % of its residents being of Hispanic decent. Even though Santa Ana has a criminal street gang population of approximately 6,900, which accounts for less than two percent of the City's population, this criminal element constitutes a significant impact on fear in the community and threatens the very safety and stability of our neighborhoods. Gangs are responsible for a disproportionate amount of crime; it is estimated that gang members were responsible for approximately a quarter of Santa Ana's Part-I Crime in 2004. Emphasis is placed on targeted gang members identified as the most active, which are eligible for vertical prosecution efforts by the Orange County District Attorney's Office. The Gang Section, as well as the department as a whole, has lost personnel due to budget constraints, and has had to devote some of its personnel to homeland security initiatives and programs. To curtail the violence and illegal activity of gang members, the Santa Ana Police Department supplements staffing with a Gang Suppression Field Force program (GSFF). Currently, the Department lacks the funding necessary to operate the GSFF program. It is only through federal grant program monies such as the Justice Assistance Grant Program that allows the deployment of officers to target enforcement of gang members involved in violent behavior. These officers exclusively respond to incidents involving gang members and gang areas. Goal: The goal of the Gang Suppression Field Force program (GSFF) is to decrease gang related crime in the city of Santa Ana to create a safe environment for residents and visitors alike. Obiectives: The goal will be accomplished through the following suppression activities: · Contact gang members to gain intelligence and investigative information for prosecutorial purposes · Increase the number of arrest and prosecution of gang members . Reduce the fear gang members evoke in the community through high visibility police presence and enforcement activities 2005-DJ-BX-1623 Page 14 of22