SANTA ANA : Residents, Police Hold Crime Parley

More than 150 residents from the southeast section of the city met with police at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church this week to complain about crime problems in their neighborhood.

Speaking in Spanish, about a dozen people told officers about crimes they witnessed and spoke of their frustration with what they said has been low police visibility and slow response time.

“They can do better, believe me,” said resident Asuncion Monter. “My children have had their bikes stolen twice, I’ve heard shootings and my neighbor’s home was broken into. We have rights and we expect (the police) to listen to us.”

The residents asked for increased police patrol and for a crackdown on gang violence and drug activity, particularly in what is known as the Delhi neighborhood.

Lt. Robert Sayne, who attended the one-hour meeting, said the department has worked hard to solve crime problems in that part of the city, particularly at Madison Park, where drug activity has been rampant, and in the Minnie Street corridor, considered to be one of the city’s worst neighborhoods.

Sgt. John Robertson, one of five foot patrol officers in the area, said the Delhi neighborhood, which consists of mostly single-family homes, has not appeared to the department to be a trouble spot.

“It hasn’t seemed that bad to us because we don’t get the constant calls like we do in more congested parts of the city,” Robertson said. “These people feel there are some serious problems, and it’s something we need to address. We will probably have to have some future meetings.”

Sayne said the department has tended to concentrate on high-density neighborhoods with numerous apartment buildings, which typically are the source of most criminal activity in the city.

“I think it’s important to open up a dialogue,” said Sayne, who agreed to meet with the residents again in 60 days. “There is often a lot of misunderstanding because of the language gap, so meetings like these help.”