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Confronting north county gangs – finally

September 1, 2011

Lisa Solomon

By DANIEL BLACKBURN

Following years of publicly understating, even concealing, criminal gang activity and influence in the north county, a depleted Paso Robles police department now will be working with multiple law enforcement agencies to address what officials call “a surge of violence” by local and outside gang activity.

Paso Robles Police Chief Lisa Solomon and San Luis Obispo County Sheriff Ian Parkinson will announce on Friday formation of a program dubbed “Safe Streets,” described as a “series of operations to identify, contact, and arrest gang members, and to impact drug-related crimes in the entire north county area.”

Solomon said “a recent rash of violent crime” in Paso Robles prompted what she described in a joint statement as “the need for a comprehensive plan” to address a growing problem with gang-related criminal activities.

Most recent of these incidents was Aug. 24, when at least one person was shot in an alleged drug deal gone bad in the northern section of Paso Robles. Local police have not mentioned gangs, nor attributed the shooting to gang members, in information released to the media to date.

Sources have told CalCoastNews, however, that several members of a Five Cities gang drove to Paso Robles, apparently to sell drugs in the north city, and the attack occurred as a result of that activity. Witnesses reported seeing a late-model white Chevrolet SUV leaving the scene that police said might be involved.

Numerous gang problems occur each year at public gatherings such as the Mid-State Fair – both inside and outside the venue – but are rarely acknowledged by authorities or reported by the local media.

In his written statement regarding “Safe Streets,” Parkinson insisted he does “not intend to allow this kind of activity in the north county. We will bring together all resources at my disposal and introduce additional law enforcement partners, including the FBI, California Highway Patrol, Monterey County Sheriff’s Department, Probation & Parole, as well as enhancing our local gang task force.”

Leveraging law enforcement capabilities will allow officials to “treat in a regional way the entire north county” with an operation that will remain intact indefinitely, the officials said.

The Paso Robles Police Department has been decimated over the past few years; city officials hoped to have 46 sworn officers by 2008, but today there are only 27. Within the department there now is no D.A.R.E. program; no motorcycle officers (with two new BMW cycles sitting idle); no traffic unit; no gang unit; and no narcotics team. Only two detectives remain.


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That is because they only want to get the easy arrest, or the ones they can make money on.


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Every week a drug deal goes down in front of my office on Spring St in Paso. When I say in front of my office, I mean LITERALLY less than 5 feet from my front door. This has been on going for the last 8 years. Early on, it was occasional…now we can see two deals go down on any given day. Did I call the police? Absolutely. I exhausted my efforts to get the PRPD to respond to my repeated calls in regards to the deals and the safety in my office neighborhood. I even had my landlord go down to the station to speak with the police chief in 2005 in regards to the drug situation in our parking lot. Then police chief Dennis Cassidy advised us they can only respond if one of their officers actually SEE the deal go down. PRPD did nothing, has done nothing, and will do nothing.


Chief Solomon can blame the dwindling budget all she wants but the budget 8 years ago was rather healthy…what was their excuse then?


I absolutely blame PRPD’s lack of response to such events for the considerable rise of gang and drug activity in Paso Robles. Their “could care less” attitude must end. People are afraid and with good reason.


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danika–I believe you 100%. Please VIDEOTAPE the incidents and post ’em on youtube. Seriously. Then maybe Lisa Solomon will put down the microphone and start focusing on fighting crime. Under her leadership, crime is up–way up–in Paso. She’s an embarrassment to the law enforcement community.


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Daniel Blackburn knows me and has been to my office. If he would like to do some sort of story/surveillance on this, I am happy to do my part. This has GOT to stop!


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Very good danika and pasoparent, it does have to be stopped and you have brought up some good ideas…

All the cop haters are not helping and have no solutions, just whining.

You have actually suggested another on the list of citizen can dos that might help stem this from becoming ingrained like it has in LA, King City and Fresno.

IMHO, because of PC requirements for LEO not to profile (if it walks like a duck, and quacks like a duck), and because the liberal courts are overwhelmed by petty crimes and misdemeanors, many actual gangbanger criminals are not prosecuted or incarcerated. Even if gangbangers are caught and go to prison, they continue their msibehaving inside the big house.


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easymoney, The people who complain on these threads are upset with good reason. Let’s not confuse the two issues. The LEO have all the support from the taxpayers that they could possibly need when it comes to doing the job that we pay them to do. Keep our neighborhoods safe and take the down the slime. I have no problem turning a blind eye when it comes to cleaning up dangerous BAD GUY’s who illegally carry weapons and terrorize the citizens. When it comes to the safety of the LEO who have to address these types of issues, I’m all for kick — first and take names later, as long as it’s a BAD GUY’S — that they kicked. I don’t care what they do with them, just keep them from advancing past Paso Robles and then run them out of this county.


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danika, I admire your dedication, but wouldn’t it be better to do the surveillance in a public park or someplace not related to you?


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The frequency of the drug deals that go on right in front of my office window every week is more than alarming. These dealers give no care. It is a dangerous situation. My point in my post was to shed light on how the PRPD has looked the other way when opportunity has arisen for them to be pro-active in curtailing the very drug issues Solomon was speaking towards. Kinda like closing the barn door after the horses get out.


It’s time to draw that line in the sand.


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At least they were working for their money and the customer was paying it by choice and not by force, which is more than I can say for a lot of jobs these days.


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You’re an idiot.


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My statement was intended to be a humorous jab at public employees. If you think someone is wrong, respond with an explanation of your view. I am actually smart enough to be willing to consider other arguments and reconsidering my own views. But since apparently you are not capable of responding like an intelligent adult, I would rather you just keep your mouth shut, plus the moderators do not like personal attacks. Have a nice day.


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Solomon, Chity and Parkinson are each cut from the same unethical fabric so don’t expect much to change.


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This is a VERY serious issue and we should all be concerned. Drugs, illegals, gangs, homelessness will only grow in this Counrty as things become worst with the economy. Everyone should be aware and concerned as it affects each one of us: our kids in schools, our business community and consumers, the elder who no longer feel safe, and our City resources which are already very tight. Obviously these low elements think they can come into a community and do whatever especially when our President, Governor, politicians, Attorney General condone this behavior. President Obama’s Aunt and Uncle are here illegally, have been on a list to be deported but according to his Aunt, she deserves to be here as she is getting free hosuing, medical and SSI (go out there and goggle). She even went to his augural and has since had her paperwork pulled. His Uncle when arrested for a DUI last week (not his first) asked the police to call us nephew, the President. And you want to know what is wrong with this Country.


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It is about time the police departments started arresting the “real criminals” instead of spending all of their time trying to find juveniles with an open beer can.


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It is disconcerting to see so little response to this article. Paso Robles has a serious problem and the PD has been ignoring this for a long, long time. The last paragraph of this article explains a lot. When is the City Council going to start a search for a new Chief of Police, one qualified for this important leadership

position? Let Lisa Solomon go back to doing what she does best, party and dance.


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It seems petty theft of a bottle of water ranks much higher on the priority scale to the PRPD than do the gangs and drug activity within the city…food for thought…


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funny, I just saw that BMW out on duty with a uniformed officer riding it.


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I did as well…


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inmyopinion,


I just saw one of those idle BMW’s in motion the other day, with a PRPD officer attached to it.


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Lisa’a a hottie.


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Not even close!


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Pizmo, who cares? She’s still underqualified & inept…


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Star chamber


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Maxfusion,


Great movie !!


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