East county creates task

A special legislative appropriation made the seven-member interagency team possible
STUART TOMLINSON

GRESHAM -- East Multnomah County's law enforcement leaders met Thursday and set up the framework for an interagency gang enforcement team that they expect to put on the streets by May 1.

The seven-member team -- which will be in place for at least 17 months -- received its $750,000 operating budget earlier this month from the Oregon Legislative Emergency Board, which allocates state money to state agencies on an emergency basis. Another $1.25 million was designated for other counties with growing gang problems, including Marion County.

The $750,000 will flow to Multnomah County and the cities of Gresham, Troutdale and Fairview via the Criminal Justice Services Division of the Department of State Police. The gang enforcement team will include two officers and one sergeant from the Gresham Police Department, one officer each from the Troutdale and Fairview police departments, one Multnomah County sheriff's deputy, and one support staff member. The city of Wood Village contracts with the sheriff's office for its law enforcement.

Gresham police Chief Carla Piluso said the impetus for the funding came after a tour of gang turf last September by Oregon legislators. It was organized by House Speaker Karen Minnis, R-Wood Village.

The tour came just a week after a gang-related shooting took the life of 18-year-old Carlos Wilberto Canulus, who was shot in the parking lot of a Fairview apartment complex.

It was Fairview's first homicide in three years, and the most visible and disturbing sign of increased activity by gang members in east Multnomah County. Piluso said there has been an alarming increase in violent gang activity in east county in the past several years.

"We respond to more shots-fired calls than we ever have before," Piluso said. "In the past, we usually found that they were car backfires or firecrackers . . . but now we're finding shell casings and bullet holes. Stabbings and assaults are becoming routine."

During the tour, Piluso told legislators that that 400 young people in east Multnomah County are involved in gangs and another 400 are "on the fringes."

She cited statistics that show an 11 percent increase in violent gang crime -- including murder, attempted murder and assault -- in all of Multnomah County from 2002 to 2003.

Piluso met Thursday with Chief David Nelson of the Troutdale Police Department, Chief Ken Johnson of the Fairview Police Department and Chief Deputy Lee Graham of the Multnomah County Sheriff's Office to discuss the plan.

Piluso said the coordinated effort will target three areas: locating and identifying gang members and affiliates; gathering and sharing information on gangs and gang activity; and providing a strong police presence in known or suspected gang areas.

"The bottom line is this -- we're going to take the attitude that no crime is too small," Sheriff Bernie Giusto said. "We can't wait for gang members to menace someone or assault someone. We've literally got to make their lives miserable if they engage in illegal activity. They're going to be rousted and jousted, but fairly. We want them to be looking over their shoulders."

Giusto said he's pushing for money to add a special prosecutor from the Multnomah County district attorney's office to the team, so that arrests lead to prosecution and prison time.

He also wants to make sure the team doesn't disband after 17 months because, he said, unless the pressure is maintained on gangs, "you fall deeper and deeper behind."

He praised Minnis for getting the money needed to form the team. A similar attempt to raise $1.6 million for gang enforcement efforts failed during the 2003 Legislature's special session because of the worsening economic forecast for the state.

"I think Karen worked a miracle . . . without her there is no money," Giusto said. "When the speaker takes an interest in your issue, it makes a difference. She has a great grasp on what it takes. Talk is nice . . . but we've got to get people's attention. "

Minnis was in Washington, D.C., on Thursday for the presidential inauguration.

Chief Johnson said he believes the team will have an impact on gang activity in all of east county.

"The Legislature saw the need and knew that we could not afford to put a team together," Johnson said. "The gangs are not cognizant of city limits. . . . If we work together we can make an impact."