I don't think it's desensitization..

I wouldn't be surprised if witnessess and other forms of leads are quiet because of increased pressure from the gangs.  There are many urban environments where gangs actively ensure that neighborhoods remain silent via intimidation tactics.

FSG -- Great point. Fear and intimidation definitely plays a part.

In TBC's Sunday edition, my story will be paired with a column by Lois Henry in which she wonders whether she would have the courage to come forward as a witness if she lived on T Street or South Robinson or another city block deep in Crips territory.

Sounds like it'll be an interesting read, Steven.

I'd also think that with the downward spiral of the economy, there's probably a larger proportion of people in these neighborhoods who are resorting to gang life in an attempt to survive.  It's only natural that as unemployment rises, especially in poorer neighborhoods, so will crime.  The more people involved, the less likely they would be to "rat" out their fellow gang members.

Actually, I talked about that with the cops. They said the economy can certainly affect property crimes and domestic disputes. But gang involvement is another level altogether and is not typically caused or stimulated by recession.

I think reporters should interview the teachers and/or friends of those who are murdered to portray a human face of the suffering caused by gang violence.  During East High School's 2008-2009 school year, three students were murdered. The kids are hurt by the violence, but I don't think the general public is because it's not in their neighborhood. 

What are the stats on black and black crime? What about hispanic on hispanic? Hispanics greatly outnumber African Americans.

hotand foggy -- really good suggestion. We do interview victims' families when we can, but that doesn't negate the continued importance of bringing a human face to these tragedies.

So far in 2009, these crimes have been almost exclusively black on black.

Here's the numbers (Bkfd city only):

OFFENDERS: 10 African-American; 3 Hispanic; 1 unknown

HOMICIDE VICTIMS: 11 African American; 2 Hispanic; 1 white

Here's a true story about The Bakersfield Californian news coverage.  Of course to the Californian's defense, this incident was a few years back.

I was substitute teaching at a continuation school in Bakersfield, and the students were reading articles for current events. A student was looking at the obituary page and exclaimed "Oh my God" or something to that extent. He then explained that the kid in the obituary attended that school last year. Some of the other kids knew him, and then they started wondering and guessing what could have happened.  Then another kid read a small article about a teen getting arrested for killing someone by smashing in his head on the pavement by Star's Theatre.  Then the students had another discussion about what the world was coming to because the perpetrator had gone to their school the previous year. The students were seriously concerned and shocked about what was happening to their peer members.

Despite the awful events that the students were reading in the newspaper, the Californian's front page story was part of a three part front page series detailing a Centennial and Garces High couple's prom experience.  I knew instantly that the Californian had the wrong front page story.     

HOW CAN WE SLOW DOWN OR EVEN STOP GANG VIOLENCE,WHEN OUR POLICE FORCE IS TOO BUSY TRYING TO DO EVERYTHING ELSE TO KEEP US SAFE.

.ESPECIALLY ALL THOSE CALLS FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WHO CANT GET ALONG FOR VISITS,OR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, STAY AWAY ORDERS ,LOUD NOISE DISTURBANCE,OR ANIMALS IN THE ROAD ,OR RUBISH,ETC. THEY HAVE TO STOP AND GO TAKE CARE OF PETTY STUFF , MOST ADULTS SHOULD BE ABLE TO TAKE OF.WE AS ADULTS EXPECT ALOT OUT OF POLICE FORCE. THEY REALLY DO THE BEST THEY CAN.WITH WHAT THEY HAVE TO FACE EVERYDAY.

GANG VIOLECE IS A TRAGEDY,BUT I DO NOT BELIEVE MOST OF IT IS THE PARENTS FAULT.THESE KIDS LEARN FROM OTHER PEERS .NOWADAYS IS SO DIFFERENT THEN WHEN I GREW UP.IT WAS THERE,BUT JUST NOT AS OPEN AS IT IS NOW.BUT THATS LIFE.WE TRY TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF A HORRIBLE SITUATION........................................ ............................

 THEY HAVE TO STOP AND GO TAKE CARE OF PETTY STUFF

I wouldn't call domestic violence "petty."

I think it's less pressure from the gangs and more along the taboo of "snitching" in the hood.  It's seen as negative to "rat" to the police, the same people that you might have seen manhandle a relative or someone in the neighborhood.  Maybe there can be some police presence other than patrolling in cars so that folks can see cops as regular people and not as adversaries.

I remember "Officer" Nuriddin when I was in Elementary school.  She's awesome.  I remember her stopping by the school to visit with students even when she was on maternity leave from the BPD.  Whenever I see her in Bakersfield, I say hello, even though she may not remember me from 20 years ago.  We need more police officers like her.

Considering every time a cop shows up anywhere he's looking to arrest someboy, it's probably not a good idea to call them ever. But what's the problem? Why can't they find 'the gangs' on their own? They get all kinds of money, outrageous benefits, and they've doubled their numbers. Is it time to admit, yet again, that they AREN'T HERE TO SERVE OR  PROTECT? Enough with the denial already. Crime can take place all over the city, but they've got downtown walled off like a ghetto in East Germany.

Crime can take place all over the city, but they've got downtown walled off like a ghetto in East Germany. 

It was 8 years ago a guy walked up to another guy, put the pistol to the back of his head and shot him downtown on 18th Street.  I held the guys hand as he died.  There's a reason why they're down there.

I thought Rubio  solved the local gang problem?

Actually, Charlie ... Ed Jagels has been the most vocal locally about solving the gang problem. Remember all those "shot callers?"

Apparently 15-yr-old gangsters with guns don't need someone calling the shots. They appear quite able to pull the trigger without any help.

jfrancis   Do you know if that was the same night that Eddie A. was shot?  

jfrancais, I remember Officer Nuriddin from DARE.

Nuriddin was great to sit down with. She seems knowledgable from the administrative perspective AND from the street perspective.

TBC Columnist Lois Henry and I sat down with Nuriddin, Bianco and Aldana last Wednesday. (Lois's column will be posted any minute)

Here's some tid-bits and quotes from the meeting I couldn't fit in the story:

• Nuriddin emphasized that the vast majority (90+ percent) of residents in those gang-infested areas are law-abiding citizens. Many, she said, feel like "prisoners in their own homes."

• With many gang-related shootings, there's no "readily available motive, no readily available M.O." detectives can use, she said.

• "Where was the outrage? Who came forward?" (Nuridden in the aftermath of a recent gang killing)

• "It's imperative that people come forward to assist us," Nuriddin said. "We don't expect a pat on the back."

sys_mom, I didn't know the guy's name.  I was working as a bouncer at Bullpen at the time.  I remember the guy being in a good mood and joking with folks then dead the next minute.  It was a senseless killing.  One of many in Bakersfield.  The guy had a sense of shock like "damn, why today? Why now?"  

Even though I've been to war and back, that night has stayed with me to this day. 

jfrancis~ I admire you. Live with it. :-)

Is the BPD racially diverse? Do they have to take racial sensitivity classes? I've had African American students state that when they were pulled over, BPD cops would ask them if they could search their trunk. Unfortunately, it's human nature that people trust those that are similar to them.

What happens if someone provides evidence? Are they protected? Can they go into protective custody?

About ten years ago, I heard of a BPD cop who stated that he doesn't let his teens go out on the weekends, because of what he has seen. Is it still that bad?

hotandfoggy -- Again, great questions!

You have anticipated my next set of questions to the BPD. If officers are canvassing a neighborhood that's 95 percent black and Latino ... and 95 percent of the officers are white, we've got a problem.

Also -- The fact that police clearance rates tend to fall as the proportion of gang killings rises is extremely important. It hammers home the need to see more involvement from the community in providing leads to officers and detectives.

It's not a problem if they show a genuine interest.  It helps to have officers that look like you or that are from the community but if they just patrol on foot or bike and say hi to the kids that can go a long way.

My memories of the BPD growing up were them throwing my uncle on the ground and breaking his jaw.  The interactions I saw were them cussing at people and being pretty rough.  The only positve conversations I had with cops were through the DARE program (officers Woolridge and Nuriddin). 

I've had African American students state that when they were pulled over, BPD cops would ask them if they could search their trunk.

Knowing what I know now, I won't consent to anything without warrants.  I'd be polite but I don't trust a potential legal adversary like that.

  It hammers home the need to see more involvement from the community in providing leads to officers and detectives.

It comes down to trust, smayer.  When crimes happen, calling the police is not the first that crosses peoples mind in the hood.  That trust is just not there.

jfrancais -- unfortunately, you are correct.

We're not desensitized.  We're just confused.  Most of us aren't touched by this violence and we have no idea of what role we play in putting an end to it.

What can I, a 60 year old white woman from the NW, do about gangs?   I pay taxes and support law enforcement with my taxes.  What more can I do? 

Help out in their neighborhoods?   I'm afraid to go near their neighborhoods.  Donate money?  I already give to multiple charities.   Volunteer in schools?  Would school children even trust me to help them?  

Yet, article after article tells me that this is society's fault.  My fault. 

It's to the point where people in the hood have to say, "enough".  Gangsters, dope, and some crime is tolerated.  For eveything that is good it is all lost to the gangsters "keeping it real" and reinforcing the idea of school not being cool and hustling in the streets is the only way.  I believe the art of hustle can be converted into legit business and getting advanced degrees.  The thugs are slanging the kool-aid and the kids are drinking it, infortunately.  I grew up around a bunch of characters and I learned something from even the bad ones but essentially the populace has to take some kind of ownership over their neighborhhoods.

It would be great if the community wants to help, but black folks have to have the gumption to say slanging dope on the corner ain't cool.  The zombie crackheads roaming the streats selling stolen meat from the grocery store ain't cool.  The apartments turning into New Jack Cities in your neighborhood and not confronting this behaviour is tacit acceptance.

Smayer, what a wise little nod of the head...."unfortunately, you are correct." Do you "journalists" practice swallowing great big hunks of tripe, or are you just lazy and find it easier to repeat the same tired lines?

Why don't you ask some of these 90%'ers that are decent and law-abiding why they don't feel any responsibility for their neighborhoods? When they hide behind the "I don't trust the cops because they beat up a guy/cussed at me/ they don't wave when they drive by" excuses, pose a real puzzler-"Do you trust the gang-banging murderous thug? There's a guy lying dead in your yard- can you put aside your personal history for a minute?"

For years, people ignore drug dealing on their street, they allow their sons to run with gangsters and their daughters to have children with them, they allow gang members to come to their homes, and then they are horrified when a gang member (or innocent bystanders) get shot.

If you aren't willing to accept responsibility, shun those family members and schoolmates who choose crime and gangs over decency, and deny them the enviornment in which they thrive, don't blame the rest of society. Look at yourself.

You have anticipated my next set of questions to the BPD. If officers are canvassing a neighborhood that's 95 percent black and Latino ... and 95 percent of the officers are white, we've got a problem.

If white cops shouldn't work in black neighborhoods, should black cops not go to white neighborhoods? Or are only white people held accountable for being racists? I'm amazed at how you can get away with posting such blatant bigotry and nobody calls you on it.

Maybe it's time we stopped telling people it's okay to withhold information on a black murderer who killed a black victim just because you don't like the color of the cop asking the questions.

we can thank the ability for inaccountability for the gang problem that exists in society.  All one has to do is look to where, socio-economically, the gang members come from.

there is a school, a middle school, within the BCSD, that has over 50 identified gang members....were talking 6th, 7th, and 8th grade here people.....this certain school, which shall remain nameless, has probation officers on site EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK,  all of these gang members come from households that receive public assistance.

now, i am NOT attempting to draw a conclusion along the lines that welfare mothers breed gang members.  HOWEVER,,,a majority of gang members come from these exact households.  inaccountability breeds irresponsibility...

so, welfare (taking care of someone else's responsibilities for them) breeds irresponsibility.

yet certain politiicans, and people who frequently post on this board, want MORE social programs?

I've been catching up on The Wire the last month. The story lines were created by a former Baltimore Sun reporter, David Simon, who followed the gang-police-political stories in Baltimore for 15 years. The stories and characters all ring true. Cultures are different and old habits, along with many in "The Game" die hard. Many of the issues are the same as what we face here in Bakersfield. One of the recurring themes from good people in those areas under attack within the series involved imploring for more cops on the street as the best deterrent and partnership between the neighborhoods and city hall. Walk a beat and meet and greet with people.

We have many community groups involved in trying to make a difference that run the gamut from small little neighborhood gatherings of the concerned to churches and state or locally run programs. Some these programs do make a difference, but these programs, and the people volunteering in them, are not in any position of authority to check any bad behavior, or really offer alternatives to the current conditions. They have soup ladles is all. 

Jobs are what this, and every community needs. Always has been the case, and always will be the case. We have a major crisis where much the private sector has chosen to reward only the investor class in this country. Until the pendulum swings back into a better balance we will continue to see violence and crime rise, and will pay more and more for added prisons that will suck away every last dollar necessary for other major projects that we have fallen so far behind on already.

No liberal wants more programs for programs sake, anymore than any conservative wants them. Liberals want a competitive marketplace where small businesses can compete with big ones and allow for more opportunity  for more people. It's not a hard concept, but it sure seems hard to put into play.

jdubois -- Do I agree (with a "a wise little nod of the head," as you put it) that there is a history of distrust between communities of color and law enforcement. Yes.

It's not tripe. The BPD officers I spoke with acknowledge it straight out.

It does no good to pretend that it's not part of this problem.

You want an honest opinion?  As long as they are killing themselves and not the rest of us I have absolutely no problem with it.  It will help save the taxpayers money otherwise spent on incarceration.

Why do people not care to provide tips or work with local law enforcement?  Because we (and I include myself in this statement) have absolutely no respect for them.  When decent people attempt to work with with law enforcement we are treated with disrespect and indifference, and it makes us very uncooperative.  I, for one, find the department's frustrations quite amusing, considering they created the problem in the first place. 

Sorry to say but if the people in the neighborhoods want the gangs to stop they need to grow a pair & step up & tell what they saw so the cops can get some info & get the perp off the streets.  If the law abiding citizens of a neighborhood want the streets back, TAKE THEM BACK!!!! If you see someone dealing dope call the cops, if they are popping off rounds call the cops, if there is a crackhead on your street run them off, if that crackhead is stealing from you call the cops & keep his butt there till the cops show. & the last thing is to the cops, if the people of the neighborhood start standing up & calling you on these punk lowlife gangsters show up & bust them. & for the DA or whoever makes the deals, STOP MAKING DEALS WITH THE&nb sp;GANGSTERS!!! The gangs know they will get most of the charges "dismissed for the furtherment of justice" or some other stupid thing, THROW THE BOOK AT THEM!!!! If the people call the cops & the cops don't do anything then even the "rich white folk" will stop respecting them & if the DA doesn't  press charges & keep those charges then we need to get rid of the DA that isn't doing his job.  In my mind the only good gangster is a dead gangster but unfortunatly there isn't a season on gangsters yet & as it usually goes the people in the neighborhood will all come out & say he changed his life or he was a good kid etc, stand up for your neighborhood & help get the gang problem out of there!!!

 If white cops shouldn't work in black neighborhoods, should black cops not go to white neighborhoods? Or are only white people held accountable for being racists? I'm amazed at how you can get away with posting such blatant bigotry and nobody calls you on it.

Nobody is saying that white cops shouldn't work in black neighborhoods. What I was implying was that a diverse police force might be able to build better relationships with Bakersfield's diverse residents.

An interactive Harvard research experiment can point out people's personal biases towards religious, gender, ethnicity, and others. Surprisingly, some people's results have shown that they have negative biases against their own demographic group. Those interested in trying out or experimenting with the tests can go to   https://implicit.harvard.edu/implicit/

FYI, before I took these little quizzes I was hesitant about their accuracy. I knew that research and statistics can be used to create biase statistics, but these quizzes did help me examine and analyze my prejudices. Personally, I'm overweight, and my test results showed that I have negative views towards people who are overweight even though I'm overweight.

 You want an honest opinion?  As long as they are killing themselves and not the rest of us I have absolutely no problem with it. 

Again, you never cese to amaze me with you selective compassion.  Why don't we just lump them in the same crowd as those overbreading, AIDS infested, unresourceful Africans, eh?

What are your feeling towards AIDS in the gay (male) community?  Is it different because they don't breed or like "fatty" breasts?

And occassionally, this crime seeps out of those areas into other areas via going to school with your kids or when they cut up at the mall.  These problems are not self-contained in a nazi-style ghetto.  It's all connected

BILLIONAIREBARTLEY -- When you write, "As long as they are killing themselves and not the rest of us I have absolutely no problem with it," I think your response mirrors the attitude of others in Bakersfield. But let's be specific.

Who are the "they" you speak of?

Does the "they" category include the grandmother shot and killed in her front yard? How about the five men and women shot while attending a family reunion earlier this month?

And who are "the rest of us?" People fortunate enough not to live in neighborhoods with gangs?

Smayer, BB has a myopic worldview.  If the topic doesn't have at least a tinge of homoeroticism then he's pretty apathetic.  Maybe if there were gay Black gangbangers (literal and figurative) needlessly dying then it may be cause for concern in his world.  But that's a big maybe because I'm not sure if BB is even down with the swirl.

BB has a habit,alternating between endearing and enraging( as is his desire), to write blatant off the wall statements in an attempt to be humorous,enlist response and perhaps be a bit provocative.

I am not sure if he believes much of what he posts. IMHO.

What? A blogger saying something outrageous just to get a response? How unusual! LOL.

I am sorry to be the one to burst your bubble smayer~ but it is true. ;-)

Private email if you want the inside info on Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny.lol

BB, in early Usenet terms, would be our "resident troll". He's got the trolling tendancies, but most of the regulars know about it and just ignore him when he does it. At other times, he can seem to be sincere, but one always takes his statements with a grain of salt given his trolling tendancies. And, as always, there is the Report Violation button for when he crosses the line, since those that write close to the line often cross it.

Some of this stuff is scarier than  a horror novel.  In fact it's more scary because vampires don't really exist and these bloggers do.   I wonder how they got so warped? 

What are your feeling towards AIDS in the gay (male) community?  Is it different because they don't breed or like "fatty" breasts?

Well, I was worried when AIDS hit the gay community back when I was a teen.  Only now that it has infected the general population do I see any money being spent on AIDS related research.  I think any disease that limits population is beneficial, not only because it leaves more for the rest of us who do not engage in risky behavior but because it primarily hits 3rd world countries, which are nothing but a drain on the resources of developing nations.

Sage, shh!  Do ya want to give away the fact I vascillate between two extremes to make my point?  Only by angering the proles can one provoke an honest response.  I get tired of people shying away from the truth in a vain attempt to be politically correct.  As Steven said, "I think your response mirrors the attitude of others in Bakersfield".  That's exactly why I said it.

You have gangs start roaming the streets of 7-11 Oaks, targetting judges and lawyers, then you'll see something done with them.  In the meantime we'll accept that we have a police force that babysits them, we thank our lucky stars we aren't that poor woman randomly shot in her yard, and we try our best to keep them out of our neighborhoods through discriminatory housing.  When will you accept that gangs proliferate like cockroaches in poor, uneducated, mostly minority communities?  I don't know of any 7 Oaks Okies or Stockdale Snob gangs running around with tats of swastikas on their necks.

smayer, address the issue. You don't get to cut it in half, repeat your appeal to authority (if the cops know so much, why are they having so much trouble?), and ignore the rest.

If "communities of color" don't trust the cops, why doesn't anybody (you, for example) ever question their basis for that complaint? All these anecdotes about beatings and asking to look in trunks...when, where, who? Did that really happen or are you just repeating? If it was really bad cops, what did you do about it? Call and complain? Tell the media? The feds? Oh, you did nothing...but it sounds good and it fits my preconceived bias, let me write that down...

 the rest of us who do not engage in risky behavior

Do you not see the irony in that statement?

 You have gangs start roaming the streets of 7-11 Oaks, targetting judges and lawyers, then you'll see something done with them.

Have you ever been to Stockdale High School?  They're definitely there with kids who live in those neighborhoods.

Thursday night, between 8 and 10, I attended a meeting on Third Street that included several residents of Bakersfield's black community.This group of mostly men, some w/former gang ties, meets every two wks. They desperately want to make a difference in their community, take action, help make things better. But how?

One of their major goals is to work toward a truce between gangs. They know that's a tall order. It may even pose dangers to those trying to help. But they think they can.

Those in attendance say thay are weary of the shootings, the endless retaliation. They're afraid in their own neighborhoods.

Watch for more on this in Sunday's paper.

That's good to know.  I grew up on Second Street.