Community pulls together to fight gangs

Dan Kulin

Friday, Sept. 20, 2002 | 10:42 a.m.

North Las Vegas Councilwoman Shari Buck said the city needs more police officers, and the mother of a girl killed in a recent gang-related shooting agrees.

Noemy Estrada's 9-year-old daughter, Genesis, was killed Sept. 7, when she was caught in the crossfire of what police say was a gang-related shootout.

Holding a picture of Genesis, Estrada told a community meeting of about 200 residents and government officials that the community should not leave this problem to the police.

"I'm here to call on the families ... to help us stop the violence and gangs," Estrada said, speaking through an interpreter.

Metro and North Las Vegas police, along with civic leaders, held the meeting Thursday night to address gang activity and violence.

Estrada and several other people said if there were more police officers patrolling the streets, gang members would be less likely to come to the neighborhood.

"We need more safety in our city," Buck said during the forum held at Lois Craig Elementary School, just blocks from where Genesis was shot. "The City Council understands this. (We) will do what needs to be done to have more police."

North Las Vegas resident Debra Tyus, 45, said she too would like to see more police on the streets. Tyus, a Clark County school bus driver, said police bring calm to an area just by being there.

But just as important as an increased police presence, Estrada said parents need to take charge of their children.

Robert Fowler, pastor at the Victory Missionary Baptist Church, said the people can't dismiss the problems of the community belong to the courts, police and social workers.

"The problem of gangs, is the problem of the family," he said.

Families have to say "enough is enough," North Las Vegas Police Chief Mark Paresi said.

Police can not solve the problem alone, he said, but "together, I believe we can put and end to this violence."

Paresi said his department is reviewing whether the city of North Las Vegas needs more than the roughly 210 officers it currently has. Because North Las Vegas is a rapidly growing city, Paresi said one could speculate the review will show more officers are needed.

But Paresi said the community needs to be involved and said he saw a lack of action during the meeting.

"There's not much feeling in this room. ... We should be angry in this room," Paresi told the crowd. "This is the last meeting where we sit on our hands folks."

Nine people, including Estrada, spoke during the question and answer portion of the meeting.

Some asked about tenant-screening training for landlords. One man complained that when he calls police to report a crime or suspicious activity he is put on hold for 30 to 45 minutes.

The chief said he has heard similar complaints before and the issue is being looked into. For now, Paresi said people should call the crime prevention bureau at 633-1808.

After the meeting, Paresi said he was surprised the audience was not more vocal.

"It's a fragile relationship" between the police and the public, he said. "We saw a lot of tentativeness."

Lt. Lewis Roberts with the Metro Police gang unit said he was surprised people did not ask how to identify gang members or where gangs are concentrated.

"But it was a start. Before we can help (the community) we have to break down the barrier between police and the community and build trust," Roberts said.

North Las Vegas Police Sgt. Frank DeMartino said police often have a hard time finding witnesses willing to talk to them.

"People are afraid to come forward. They don't want to get involved," he said. "It's our No. 1 problem."

DeMartino said hopefully the community meetings will help build a better relationship between police and the public, "so they can help us help them."

Roberts said he expects citizens will be more involved at a second meeting on gang-related activity. That meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Buena Vista police substation at 2417 Morton Ave.

According to Roberts and DeMartino, there has been a total of 16 gang-related homicides in Metro and North Las Vegas police jurisdictions since Jan. 1.