Homeland Security Offers San Jose Police Help With Gang Problem
SAN JOSE (KCBS) -- The San Jose Police Department announced on Friday they are getting some assistance in combating gang-related crimes from The Department of Homeland Security.
Under the partnership two gang experts from Homeland Security will be assigned to work with the department's gang investigations unit. According to police spokesman Jason Dwyer, 14 of the 27 homicides this year have been gang-related.
"They have an extensive background in gang investigations. They've worked major cases involving large gangs such as MS13. Right now if you look at the gang climate inSan Jose and the uptick in gang violence we're experiencing, we can use all the help we can get," Dwyer said.
Dywer made it clear that the partnership doesn't involve immigration removals.
KCBS' Mike Colgan Reports:
"This is not an immigration issue. We are not bringing these Homeland Security investigators in order to go on to a broad immigration sweep," Dwyer said reassuringly. "This is about gang violence and criminal investigations. The chief's and the department's stance is not changing on immigration. This is a resource we could not pass up," he added.
The department is in the process of laying off 122 officers before the new fiscal year starts on July 1st.
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