Stockton Police, San Joaquin Sheriffs Join To Fight Gang Activity

STOCKTON (CBS13) - Stockton Police Gang Officers join forces with San Joaquin County Sheriff's Gang Deputies to target street criminals in the Stockton area.

Named San Joaquin Multi-Agency Gang Task Force, the hope is that additional resources will allow officers to crackdown on gang infested neighborhoods.

"We are going to go in the county pockets here within the city and let the gang members know we are watching you," said Stockton Police Officer Joseph Silva.

Other local law enforcement agencies, and even federal agencies, have shown interest in joining.

The need is clear. One person was killed a few hours after police launched a massive two day saturation mission focusing on gangs and guns.

After making a hundred arrests, discovering 17 guns and searching criminal's homes, a ten year old boy and a man were shot during a Mother's Day party.

"We wish there were more police," said citizen Sara Robles.

Robles and her family live near the latest shooting, and she's afraid to host her 4-year-old son's birthday, because she fears gang members will show up uninvited and start shooting.

"My niece went to a party and they killed her friend right in front of her, for no reason," said Robles.

The gang task force announcement comforts her.

"It's hard where we live," said Robles.

Robles hopes changes happen fast, because moving out of the crime ridden city isn't an option.

"The economy is going down so much, you can't afford a better place," said Robles.