Trouble in island paradise?

Too small a space with too many people. Normal California, Over Done.

I am a retired firefighter and have seen directly the results of LA County Sheriffs control of a municipality. Please DONOT cancel the contract with LA Co. The reason that LA Co. is so effective in police control, is that thier Police Chief is an elected official. He does not have to bow down to Political Pressures, as an appointed Police Chief may.
LA Co. Sheriffs is an elete organization and do an excellent job. They are experts in criminal activity and should be left to continue in crime control.
I love to visit Catalina on a regular basis, being close and living in Long Beach, and love to see LA Co. Sheriffs on duty when I'm there.

What a bunch of snivelers. The mayor sounds like an absolute fool. If you don't pay attention to small problems, they will become big problems. Lt. Cook, keep up the good work.

I think that the statistics speak for themselves.

Crime is down since they started targeting these gangs, a large percentage of them are now on probation, in a treatment program, or in jail.

Soundslike the Sheriffs department is doing a great job. Wish they would take over Long Beach and do the same here.

"There's Trouble, my friends! Right here on Catalina! And that starts with "T" and that rhymes with ... " Well, you get it.

Scott wrote:

I think that the statistics speak for themselves.
Crime is down since they started targeting these gangs, a large percentage of them are now on probation, in a treatment program, or in jail.
Soundslike the Sheriffs department is doing a great job. Wish they would take over Long Beach and do the same here.

I've found that the best way to avoid abuse within "the system," is to stay out of the system in the first place.
The stupid boy got into the system with the underage drinking, which he was convicted of. That's a huge wakeup call to get your act together, kid.
If he kept pulling crap, he would likely draw even more police attention, and the police actions ensued.
What stupid peasants who aren't in control of their children tend to do is try to blame the police on procedural points, instead of attacking why the police are focused on their boy in the first place.
Police can't mitigate bad parenting. All they can do is try to protect society against the children's parents have, that they didn't really want in the first place.

Seein the lite wrote:

"There's Trouble, my friends! Right here on Catalina! And that starts with "T" and that rhymes with ... " Well, you get it.

Police were right to jump on it right away.
All trashy people have this in common: they think their problems, and their actions, are unique, when they aren't. Low class people are the most habitual class of people there is.
They all pull the same cr*p, the same way, because ultimately, they're stupid. Stupidity tends to downplay individuality. They're all generally stupid sheep, and experienced police can nail them easily, if they have the resources.
They have it in Catalina, so it's relatively easy to close down idiot aspiring gang members before the Mayor has a chance to take a stupid breath.
Keep it up, Catalina police!

At one time the sheriffs were in Long Beach, boy what a job they did then...But really our LBPD are doing a wonderful job I see it around me in Long Beach all day long. Thank you LBPD, now go have a great day ! Say thank you to a LBPD if you see one today !

StayAtHomeMom wrote:

At one time the sheriffs were in Long Beach, boy what a job they did then...But really our LBPD are doing a wonderful job I see it around me in Long Beach all day long. Thank you LBPD, now go have a great day ! Say thank you to a LBPD if you see one today !

Agreed. LBPD are doing a great job, in spite of all the hurdles the city council constantly puts before them.

Of course, American citizens of hispanic descent are suffering the logical consequences of unfettered illegals alien infestation.

Why should Catalina be more civilized and less crime ridden than what remains of L.A. County under the vile, uber destructive Democrats.

They have no more right to a decent future than any of our families. We vote to destroy our children's future and their children must suffer the same consequence.

smells like coverup.catalina generates so much money from tourists that they dont want to deter anyone from visiting due to their gang problems.looking for someone to blame.but then again sheriffs have a tendency to harass alot of people.

Catalina Island has no more right to be free of the ultra vicious illegal alien gangsters than any other place in what remains of Democrat demolished California.

Why should their families face less horror at the hands of those who encourage the infestation?

Catalina families are no more deserving of a shot at a decent American future than any other of today's California citizen families.

Sounds just like 'Jaws'....

"There is no shark problem, There is no shark problem, There is no shark problem" said the mayor.

Your story is completely full of lies. I live on the island, and if anyone is causing trouble and out of control, it'e the sheriffs. They harrass people who live here constantly. They pick on certain people, mostly hispanics. A person who lives here cannot even walk down the street without being stared down by one of these gangsters with a badge (I mean the police. That's what they are, gangsters with a badge.) I have lived here for over a year, and I have yet to see a gangster here. The only criminals I see here are the police themselves. This article is full of lies, incorrect information, and will further ruin our livelyhood. Who is going to compensate me when tourism drops because you "journalists" are lying and killing tourism? ASSHOLES!!!!!!

Glad to see the sheriff's nipped this problem in the bud. Of course there will be protests from some who feel victimized. If your innocent kid got pulled over and searched, sorry. Collateral damage, I guess. But you'll notice that the word got out quickly...gangs can not turn Avalon into their new turf. We decent people are sick and tired of the way gangs and their lifestyle have ruined too many neighborhoods and lives. Good work LASD!

I'm sure other cities didn't think they had gang problems in the beginning either. Back in the 70'S & 80'S most people didn't take the rising gang numbers seriously and look where we stand today with gangsters and crime. It is out of control. I'm sorry Catalina, but you are not immune from problems any other city has. If you want to keep your beautiful island safe and secure, you need to let the police do their job. If they think there is a gang problem, something is obviously happening to make them think that. Welcome to the "REAL" world.

Why shouldn't Catalina be as dangerous and dysfunctional as the rest of L.A. County? Voters elected the leaders who continue our status as Gang Capitol of the World. Catalina should share in the decline of civility and embrace the Third World future that is the mission of the politicians who are elected in L.A. County.

Visited with out of state guests last year. We could not stroll downtown due to harassment from gang types. Restaurants overrun by noisy gangs.
Hotel strongly suggested that we lock windows and doors and be careful on the streets. WE WILL NEVER GO BACK!!!

These folks are all complaining of stuff from months ago. The Perozas complain of Dept. CHild services, not the police. Why is this an issue now? Who contacted the press to interview these folks? and WHY would the City Council want to get rid of a police force that has "nipped the gang problem in the bud" and lowered crime? This seems as though it could use some investigating. I hope the Sheriff's Dept tells the Mayor and City Council to find their own dept.