Crime & Safety

Cops Will Team Up to Combat Gangs

A new countywide gang task force will be announced Tuesday.

The Santa Cruz County Law Enforcement Chiefs Association will formally launch a new a countywide gang task force at a press conference Tuesday morning in Watsonville.

The interagency collaboration will include the California Highway Patrol, California State Parks, Capitola Police Department, Santa Cruz Police Department, Santa Cruz County District Attorney's Office, Santa Cruz County Probation Department, Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office, Scotts Valley Police Department, Watsonville Police Department, along with California State Department of Parole.

Check Patch later Tuesday for the full story.

Find out what's happening in Watsonvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In 2010, the Sheriff's Office and District Attorney's Office teamed to establish a dedicated gang unit, and the Santa Cruz and Watsonville police departments each have gang investigators in their ranks. However, the new task force will encompass nearly all of law enforcement agencies in the county.

Gang crime has been rampant in South County this summer, with and numerous other gang-motivated shootings, assaults and other crimes. But gang crime is not limited to one geographic area in the county;

Find out what's happening in Watsonvillewith free, real-time updates from Patch.


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