Gang-Related Crimes Trend Downward in Past Five Years

Today marks one month since a Newark Memorial High School student was killed as a result of a gang-related stabbing in Fremont.

And in the weeks following the Fremont stabbing death of 18-year-old Osana Futi, Newark has experienced three gang-related incidents within its own city limits – with the most recent possible sending a 20-year-old man to a local trauma center early Saturday.

But Newark’s influx of gang-related violent crimes in the past month is a problem that city leaders and law enforcement officers said is neither isolated nor new to Newark.

“Gangs are a regional problem,” said Police Cmdr. Michael Carroll.

Since 2002, Newark police have responded to 618 gang-related crimes, according to statistics provided by the .

Of those, 187 were violent crimes – which include murders, assaults, batteries, fighting, threats, robberies, carjackings, shootings and kidnappings. A total of 105 of those violent crimes resulted in injuries, which are classified as any visible wound, Carroll said.

Still, Newark’s gang-related crimes, which spiked in the mid-2000s, are trending downward. Since 2006, gang-related crimes have decreased by 67 percent – with 96 occurring in 2006 and 31 in 2011. See table below.

According to statistics through 2011, gang-related, violent crimes involving anyone under the age of 18 have decreased by 45 percent since 2006.

“Between Newark, Fremont and Union City, I think we have the smallest gang problem of all three cities,” Caroll said.

He added gangs are not a “new phenomenon” and compared with previous years, gang-related issues at Newark schools also appear to be much lower.

“It’s a cycle… And there’s a hope it doesn’t rise,” Carroll said.

But Newark police cannot work alone in curbing gang-related crimes, especially when it involves youth, Carroll said.

He added parents must be knowledgeable and determine whether their children are participating in gangs. Police officers are willing to help parents determine if their children are and can provide parents with resources, Carroll added.

Additionally, the city of Newark, Newark Police Department and Newark Unified School District plan to continue to collaborate in order to curb youth-related, gang-related crimes, said Mayor Al Nagy.

Monthly, representatives from police department meet with school administrators to identify potential issues and crime trends before they escalate.

 “We work hard with the school. That open connection has helped,” said Carroll, noting the downward trend in gang-related crimes that involve anyone under the age of 18

“It brings us up to speed at what’s going on at the schools, safety wise, and get to know the trends… [so] we can address issues at the school before it gets out in the community,” Carroll added.

Looking toward the future, Nagy and Carroll said the city is looking to increase its resources to decrease crime of all sorts.

But when it comes to gang-related crimes in particular, Nagy said the city is looking to add an additional detective to its three-member Special Enforcement Team. Its current team, which focuses on suppressing crimes related to gangs and narcotics, consists of one detective sergeant and two detectives, Carroll said.

The police department has also revived its Neighborhood Watch program that includes Neighborhood Watch groups in nearly 20 communities, according to city leaders.

Carroll added Newark police are also in the process of launching a volunteer policing program in which residents who are trained and certified can patrol in marked vehicles to keep a watch out for crime and report it into the department.

“It’s going to get more people aware of what’s going on in the community and their surroundings,” Carroll said.

If anyone witnesses any crime happening, Carroll has advice: Call 9-1-1 and be a good witness. Carroll said to be sure to describe what you are seeing. He assured that tipsters can remain anonymous.

Any person with any information concerning any crime can contact the Newark Police Department's non-emergency line at 510-578-4237 or can call the Silent Witness Hotline at 510-578-4000, extension 500.

Follow the Newark Police Department at nixle.com.

Newark Gang-Related Crimes Since 2002

2012**

*Source: Newark Police Department; **2012 numbers include incidents through May 24.

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