OREM -- The city of Orem wants to move forward in making all public parks and schools prohibited areas for gang loitering, but the City Council has decided to discuss the measure in a joint meeting with Alpine School District officials before voting on it.
"We're very concerned that we do whatever we can to control any type of gang activity," said Mayor Jerry Washburn during the discussion at City Council meeting.
Orem Department of Public Safety officials have identified approximately 10 to 15 gangs in Orem, with about 300 gang members. Gang activity in the city has included crimes such as graffiti, assaults, drive-by shootings, drug use and distribution and curfew violations.
The gang loitering statute was passed during the last session of the state Legislature, which makes it a Class B misdemeanor for gang members to loiter in designated areas after having been ordered to disperse by law enforcement within the preceding eight hours. The intent of the law is to prevent gangs from establishing "turf" from which to exclude others, or to use the place as a base of operations for illegal activities.
Under the law, gang loitering means that a person stays in one place under circumstances that would make a reasonable person believe that they were helping a gang to establish control over the area, intimidate people or conceal illegal activities.
"What we're trying to create here is a 'safety zone' for people who don't want to be bothered by gangs," said Councilwoman Margaret Black.
Public Safety director Mike Larsen said that once a year the department will review information with the City Council on what effect the enforcement is having -- if it is effective or not -- in order to make "appropriate adjustments."
Councilman Carl Hernandez said that the language in the statute says that elected officials from the area should be consulted concerning the places designated for prohibiting gang loitering, and suggested Alpine School District board members should be involved.
"I think it's going to serve to their benefit," Hernandez said.
Washburn mentioned the City Council's meeting with members of the school district board and said it would not only be good to involve them in the process, but would be a courtesy as well.
In answer to a question from Councilman Mark Seastrand, Larsen said there is nothing in the statute that would prevent minor school children who might be associated with gangs from attending classes at school.
Hernandez said the city would be wise to consider putting up some kind of signs giving notification of the enforcement of gang-free zones.
"It sends a strong message to the rest of the community that we're serious about this," he said. "We want to be sure we're not allowing this element to permeate our community."
Anticipating support from the school board, the City Council plans to vote on the measure at its Aug. 25 meeting.
Posted in Orem on Thursday, August 13, 2009 12:30 am Updated: 7:30 am. | Tags: Orem, Alpine School District
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