Sheriff Will Tackle Coastside Gang Problems Head-On

San Mateo County Sheriff Greg Munks has seen enough. Gang activities that were previously confined to certain inland San Mateo County cities have begun to take root on the coast, and Munks wants to be proactive in stemming the tide.

To do so, the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office is launching the Coastside Neighborhood Response Team, an initiative meant to combat gang activities in coastside communities and enhance the County’s gang suppression program.

According to information provided by spokesman Lt. Larry Schumaker, "The Coastside Neighborhood Response Team will identify, verify and monitor local gang members and their activities, assist the Sheriff’s Patrol and Investigations Divisions in criminal investigations involving gang members, and reduce the overall incidents of gang related criminal activity."

Schumaker says the information obtained by the CNRT will be used by the Sheriff’s Office to determine the appropriate resources necessary for long term gang education, prevention, and intervention.

“The coastal communities of San Mateo County are among the most beautiful in the State of California," says Munks. "They remain wonderful places to raise families, conduct business and attract visitors.”

In the past few years, the City of Half Moon Bay and other coastside communities have experienced .

While the majority of crimes have occurred in Half Moon Bay, the sheriff's office says incidents of gang violence also have occurred within the North and South coastal communities.

Sheriff's officers have had a difficult time obtaining important information about gang members and their activities, sometimes due to intimidation by the gangs, and sometimes due to a lack of trust for outsiders.

Munks feels he has addressed by outsider issue by compiling a team made up of deputies familiar with the Coastside, officers who have established existing relationships in these communities.

Munks feels the best practices for gang prevention include youth programs such as those offered through the Sheriff’s Activities League, and a zero tolerance enforcement policy for gang activity and criminal behavior.

“I will not allow recent incidents of gang activity and gang violence to impact the quality of life that our coastside residents have worked so hard to achieve,” added Munks.

The Coastside Neighborhood Response Team will augment the sheriff’s gang suppression plan that include strategies, enhanced communication mechanisms and the re-deployment of the countywide .

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