Nine of these guys were arrested by the SAPD this week at Santiago Park
I met today with Santa Ana Chief of Police Paul Walters and two of his police officers, from the SAPD. One of them, Hank Couisine, is a Special Investigator. The other works in Vice Squad.
We met to discuss the ongoing problems at Santa Ana’s Santiago Park with regard to men who go there to lurk and to engage in lewd acts.
My recent post about this situation triggered a lot of action at Santa Ana’s City Hall. Walters asked the Santa Ana Parks and Recreation Department to clean up the brush at the park, to give these creeps less places to hide. They did so once and are planning another clean-up soon.
Walters also sent in the troops. In fact they arrested nine men just yesterday, just after dusk! They employed decoys very effectively. We wrote about that tactic previously as well. Click here to read that post.
Walters noted that his department uses software to collect crime data and then they focus their crimefighting areas on hot spots in the city. Santiago Park is the only park with substantial lewd conduct problems.
Continue reading SAPD working hard to stop lewd conduct at Santa Ana’s Santiago Park
I think this is the only good thing your blog has ever done. It pains me to say good job.
Good for you Art, you really are putting your mouth into action..
I’t so ridiculous though, if the cops really wanted to clean up this park they could do it ( and that includes the residents). So wise up peelers you don’t need detective work to solve this one.. just presence!
Book them, Fine them and send them to jail if need be..
It pains me to say good job.
That’s the kind of compliment we like. Close your eyes, you may feel a little pinch…
Peelers? That’s a new one for me, Quinn. That’s what Irish people call cops??? Translate, please.
I’m going to offer a controversial perspective on this. I worked with a guy who I respected a lot, who was murdered in Berkeley in the early 90’s, when he was in a similar kind of park, apparently looking for sex. Needless to say, we who worked with him were shocked and hugely saddened, but I’ve now had 20 years to think about this, and I can’t help but wonder if this man had not felt SO much social pressure to NOT BE GAY … if he might have felt more comfortable “coming out” … if he might then have been more comfortable finding more conventional relationships … if he consequently might have avoided the violent demise that punctuated his life.
Our parks, absolutely, should and must be free from homo OR hetero sexually lewd acts, but the fact that it is predominantly homosexuals who engage in this risky behavior deserves considered contemplation. What message are we sending to our gay brothers and sisters that leads them to feel it’s safer to hang out in the bushes in a park than to be their true selves? I think we need to take some responsibility for this.
Longboobs,
Good points. Chief Walters did say that many of the perps are married and are cheating on their wives with other men.
That said, they have no right to do these acts in our park.
There are plenty of places in town where they can hook up. Santa Ana is a very gay friendly town.
I cannot do much to change a society that shuns homosexuals. I can however work to keep exhibitionist perverts out of our parks.
I opposed Prop. 8 – and that cost me votes in my Council race last year. But I don’t regret it. We need to treat our gay brothers equally. But I draw the line when it comes to public lewd conduct. This behavior isn’t helping the gay cause.
SAPD is awesome. Being gay is the choice of the people. However, this goes out to all the gays and straigts who crusie the park..fyi LEWD CONDUCT is against the law…KEEP IT CLEAN. Quit being CARELESS , better yet recognize that the park is for exercise and walking your dog and being around family and friends for birthdays and community. So if you get caught! IT’s your falt.
Richard Alfaro ….. If you dont reecognize you need help! and you in the park looking to participate in sexual conduct. I’m telling you GET HELP! IT JUST GETS WORSE. I take this stand because No ONE in the City will ever discuss this issue. I hope this helps reduce are safty problem in Santa Ana.
Mr. Alfaro
Yes sorry Peeler’s a cop in N.Ireland..
I never knew why we called them Peeler’s:)
Are most of the men caught or seen in the park Hispanic?
Being Catholic would probably have a lot to do with not coming out.
Yup, good job Art. Thank you for bringing the problem back into focus and pursuing solutions. Bravo!
I am SO glad that the drugs and violence are out of SA so that we can now focus on this. Oh wait…. THEY AREN’T!!!
I am not gay, but LORD HAVE MERCY, what a bunch of busy-bodys. God help us if this is our only great cause or concern in SA. What other crime related issues have these people responded to lately. I’ll tell you… NONE! They [you] are so worried what is going on with other peoples sexuality and if it matches yours, you can sleep at night, appearantly…
I need to move to where the police are not jumping through anti-“hidden agenda” hoops from a bunch of busy-bodies and worry about the real issues.
Ted,
Most people do not agree with the notion that it is OK for anyone to have sex in our public parks. It is a horrible thing to do with kids in the area.
Why can’t you hook up somewhere else? Leave our parks alone you pervert!