Fresno Police To Focus On Gangs

By Clint Olivier and Winston Whitehurst

At Riverpark in Fresno, Marguerite Laccabue is picking up a few odds and ends as part of her Christmas shopping.

"My sister and brother in-law and all their kids," she said.

Just after KMPH News finished talking with Laccabue, the Gottschalks parking lot was cruised by an officer from the Fresno Police Department as a part of Operation Christmas Presence, where cops look out for crooks looking to prey on shoppers.

But as of today, officers are redeploying to fight a spike in violent crime.

"There appears to be a higher level of comfort on the part of many individuals who feel they can drive on our streets armed with firearms and commit violent acts," Fresno Chief Jerry Dyer said.

Dyer says his department is planning to send a serious message to thugs.

Within the last two weeks there have been 14 shootings in Fresno, nine people have been shot.

Chief Dyer says at least five of them are gang-related, and the violence is focused in the Southwest part of town.

Dyer will move officers serving on "Operation Christmas Presence" to a new detail, "Operation Guns 'N Gangs."

"We will be utilizing both marked patrol cars, officers who are in uniform and officers who are in plainclothes," he said.

Chief Dyer says it started Tuesday, and it will utilize 130 gang, traffic, MAGIC and patrol officers per night for at least the next two weeks.

The chief also says it will cost the city 30 thousand dollars in overtime.

Back at Riverpark, Marguerite Laccabue says the loss of officers at shopping centers could result in a gain for the entire city.

"I guess it doesn't bother me too much, just because I try to do most of my shopping in the daytime, I wouldn't stay out late at night," she said.

The Chief says police will also increase the searches of those on probation and parole, and will serve additional warrants for drugs.

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Fresno Police To Focus On Gangs

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