“Team members have also stopped and identified gang members and conducted field interviews to see what they’re up to. . .criminal activity goes down when people know they’re being closely watched.”Cmdr. Trimble said the team has also worked on preparing search warrants as part of their duties.“They receive specialized training, all the officers are sent off to specific drug and gang,” seminars and workshops to supplement their own research and education efforts, Cmdr. Trimble noted.At the March 29 City Council meeting SPPD Chief Bob Gonzales said that the Crime Suppression Team has been a “real boon for the department,” and community.Among the 29 arrests made by the Crime Suppression Team there were seven felonies and the arrests included juveniles for graffiti and other acts of vandalism.
Crime Suppression Team: New unit arrests 29 lawbreakers
April 14, 2004
Santa Paula Police Department
The Santa Paula Police Department’s Crime Suppression Team (CST) is only about a month old, but so far has done an “awesome job” in targeting narcotic and gang activity, according to a SPPD spokesman.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula TimesThe Santa Paula Police Department’s Crime Suppression Team (CST) is only about a month old, but so far has done an “awesome job” in targeting narcotic and gang activity, according to a SPPD spokesman.Commander Mark Trimble said the eight-officer unit includes a lead gang officer and a lead narcotic officer who direct the other officers in criminal investigations, arrests and prosecutions.“It’s a group of highly skilled and highly developed officers who have the expertise to target those two specific areas,” of gangs and narcotics.Formed in February, team members work all shifts but “go out as an entire unit,” as required, said Cmdr. Trimble.After training, the Crime Suppression Team was first deployed on March 7 and so far has made 18 gang-related and 11 narcotic-related arrests.
