AP
Anaheim is home to the Angels baseball team and, on Friday, it was also the scene of “Operation Halo.” No, it had nothing to do with getting the franchise out of its late season struggles and everything to do with the much scrutinized Anaheim Police Department. Authorities told the Los Angeles Times that considering the unrest in the city, there had been thought given to delaying the sweep conducted in East Anaheim. Yeah right! The timing couldn’t have been better because of that very fact.
According to media reports, thirty-three arrests were made as weapons and meth were also seized. But beneath the headlines, Operation Halo provided an opportunity to reframe the department away from recent criticisms. Even the name has angelic connotations!
Chief John Welter utilized the raids to speak of how they had to be carried out as scheduled so that another person doesn’t get shot. Not denying hood violence exists, but isn’t this an ironic statement for a department to make that has come under fire for controversial fatal officer-involved shootings dating back to last summer? (And beyond that too!)
The gang targeted by the raid was said to have thrived off of instilling fear in the community of the police. It was heartbreaking, but when the group We Are Anaheim engaged the children of Anna Drive in an artistic project, some drew depictions of police and a K-9 chasing after a resident. This was the recreation of the chaotic scene after the shooting death of Manuel Diaz in that neighborhood. Once again, the department, unfortunately, has made decisions independent of any other factors that have traumatized communities in the city. Handing out bilingual flyers after carrying out raids will not make amends.
The inclusion of Diaz’s photo on the high school project-like poster board for the operation’s press conference must be noted. He is deemed as a person of interest who would have been targeted in the sweep that day. There is, of course, only one problem. Diaz was killed unarmed in broad daylight weeks ago in an Anaheim police officer-involved shooting. If deceased, why is his photo still up there? Beyond the grave, he remains a person of interest. The reasons are obvious.
Welter also went on to hail Halo as the first step of recovery for Anaheim. Police are agents of societal law enforcement, not transformation. In the last thirty years, with the rise of the failed Drug War, mass incarceration, and the new Jim Crow, that task has become all the more repressive (and militarized) in nature.
The formula for the city’s recovery lies in resources, not raids. Something akin to Homeboy Industries is needed to provide viable economic alternatives. Mexican-American Studies in the schools would alleviate the cultural disorientation and learned self-hatred that fuels the existence of gangs alongside poverty. These priorities, sadly, are not even being articulated by the misleadership class in the city.
In the end, it’s not about “community policing.” It’s about building a more viable community with less policing.
GSR – You think that the raids were “conveniently timed”?
You sure give the Anaheim PD a lot of credit for being able to coordinate and direct federal and state law enforcement authorities.
skallywag – reading comprehension evades you.
The notion of “possibly postponing the raids” is not one I subscribe to.
Obviously all of the agencies involved were ready at the time – everything was ready – it would have been stupid to postpone the raids. They were successful.
And yet we are led to believe that that was seriously weighed!
They considered it – so what – you are concerned about some pretty silly things.
There is no meat in your post – where’s the beef?
There’s plenty of meat on the bone, you just faking vegetarian
Gabriel
I am new in the world of bloggers. May I ask why you respond with such snide remarks to people who disagree or question you? It is the same style that Arellano uses in the OCW, and it is discouraging. Regarding the raid, I agree that it was a risky decision to carry it on at this time. I also agree about building a more viable community. BTW, as you mention the misleadership class in the city, could you refer me information on the “vendidos latinos leaders and Curt Pringle”? I already tried the OCW search. Gracias.
I’m not new so I know a sock puppet when I read one. Put your real name to your thoughts and we can talk!
I can exchange people’s e-mails, upon receiving a mutual request, privately without requiring anyone to go public in front of everyone.
I’m good. Trust me, I’m good!
I’m fine; it’s the other commenter who has to trust you! We don’t give up user info willy-nilly.
“We” is me. I don’t need you to really mediate anything!
And that is the same lame excuse that Arellano uses when he doesn’t want to respond. You both deal with anonymous commenters everyday – you are picking and chosing which of those you want to respond to.
Only there’s a difference between anonymous commenters and sock puppets!
Hmm… he seemed like a nice guy to me. I know he’s been criticizing Gustavo a little. Are you saying by “sock puppet” that he’s pretending to be something he isn’t? That he’s an old enemy of you and Gus’ pretending to be some wide-eyed newcomer? Hm…
I do know that when Moxley wrote something ripping this blog, and me and Greg got on and fought back, and a bunch of anonymous people agreed with us, he thought all those anonymous people were really me and Greg. THAT was crazy.
*Conspiracy Theories…don’t get us started. How about John Hinckley Jr. – His dad a big friend of George H.W. Bush……….get it? How about the Manson killings? Terry Melcher and the Beach Boys connection? How about the strange death of Adolf Hitler….was it really him that died in that bunker? Or did he take the last Submarine out on the way to Argentina? RFK. JFK, Marilyn Monroe………George Reeves…hey,
we got a million of them. How about the ’65 Watts Riots? Kent State? The list is long and alot more credible than what is offered up here.
Let’s get it together folks. How about having the Anaheim Code Enforcement people busting gang members for no license tags for their dogs? Now that could be a really
good and reasonable Conspiracy Theory.
Remember: There are no coincidences….only timely action! John Lennon too!
I’m not into conspiracy theories.
gabriel san roman – Sir….fine….then get someone to turn state’s evidence…and
move forward smartly.
What this critique is based on is statements made on record to a newspaper. That’s all.
it does not matter when . they got bad people off the streets im all for it .
“I do know that when Moxley wrote something ripping this blog, and me and Greg got on and fought back, and a bunch of anonymous people agreed with us, he thought all those anonymous people were really me and Greg. THAT was crazy.”
Uh .. oh …. – now we have to question whether Moxley’s HBPD helicopters are a figment of his imagination.
Oh yeah, this is back when Gabriel and Gustavo were claiming Ricardo Toro wasn’t real. Of course I hung out with him many times after that, went to a Bernie rally with him in 2016, and he even wrote a few stories for us.
Haven’t heard from him in a while though, wonder how he is…