Gang Crime in Montebello

* Since the publication of “All the Dead Young Men” (Dec. 5) my telephone has not stopped ringing. Who are my callers? Alarmed citizens of Montebello, who were not aware that their city had experienced such an increase in gang-related homicides.

We are not denying that gang activity and gang-related deaths have increased everywhere, particularly throughout Los Angeles County. However, the article, which was based largely on an interview with a local mortuary owner and former Montebello police officer, Robert R. Risher, failed to mention some of the greater strides that have been made in keeping the lid on crime in this city.

The members of the Montebello Police Department are joined by a coalition of citizen-based groups such as the YMCA, the local PTA, the Police Activity League, Gang Diversion Task Force, DARE and myriad other groups, all of which work hard to keep our streets safe.

There were only two gang-related homicides in Montebello in 1994 and three so far this year. Gang-related crime statistics for 1994 indicate a decrease in activity by a whopping 27% over the previous year. During 1994, Montebello officers increased the number of gang-related arrests by 20%. By anyone’s measure, these statistics reflect a more than modest success in our efforts to “keep the lid” on gang activity.

Also lost in the article is the fact that Montebello’s Risher Mortuary serves a broad base of customers from surrounding communities, in addition to Montebelloans. Not a single one of the mentioned incidents occurred in Montebello. Additionally, not a single one of the tragic young victims listed in the article was killed in this city.

We are not saying that gang activity does not exist in Montebello. Of course it does. But we are more than holding our own at the Montebello Police Department in the battle against gang crime.

G. S. SIMONIAN

Chief of Police, Montebello