May 1, 2009 4:56 pm US/Pacific
The Scoop: Ganging Up
R.E. Graswich
SACRAMENTO (CBS13) ―
The Sacramento Police Department has joined forces with the CHP to cut down on gang violence. I have the scoop on why and how it's working.
Cops are territorial animals. They don't like people messing around on their turf, especially other cops. But these are unusual times. In an unprecedented move, the Sacramento Police Force has enlisted the California Highway Patrol to help fight street gangs in Sacramento.
Traditionally, city cops think CHP officers should stick to writing traffic tickets. And the CHP thinks their high pay, training and statewide presence makes them special.
I went to the Sacramento Police headquarters and met with Lieutenant Donald Reim.
"Lieutenant, what is the CHP doing for the Sac PD?" I asked.
"A few months back we got together with CHP and collaborated to do some enforcement, really address some of the gang and crime activities in different sectors of the city," says Lieutenant Reim.
The focus has been on hunting gang members, especially in South Sacramento. In two months the alliance has made 80 felony arrests and grabbed 144 drunk drivers.
"I know police officers can be territorial animals, they may say this is my job, my place, I don't want some chippie sniffing around in my turf, have you seen that happen?" I asked.
"No, you know, actually, putting this together at the inception I was happily surprised at how well they got along and they are really working together as a team out there. In fact, if you changed uniforms you wouldn't know one from the other," explained Lieutenant Reim.
Sac PD admits a couple of years ago they wouldn't have asked for any help. But with tight budgets and the never ending gang problem Sac P.D called for backup. They called the CHP.
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