Seven 'Gang Members' Taken Off Hawaiian Gardens Injunction List As Sheriff Meets With Members of the Community

By Jerry Bernstein

Seven names have been taken off the Gang Injunction list in Hawaiian Gardens following meetings the past two months between Sheriff Lee Baca and Way Out Ministry Pastor Barry Bruce and his wife.
In a report to the Hawaiian Gardens City Council at its Oct. 12 meeting, Sheriff Baca said he and his people have met with the Pastor five times to resolve issues growing out of the gang sweeps last spring, and they plan to continue the meetings. He said what is important is the results from the meetings.
Lakewood Sheriff Station Captain Christy Guyovich said the seven Hawaiian Gardens residents have been taken off the Gang Injunction list and it is now believed the seven are trying to get out of the gangs and no longer have to be listed under the injunction. ##M:[more]##
Baca said if it had not been for the Pastor�s wife, this would not have been accomplished. He thanked her for her efforts in resolving this particular matter. Both Pastor Bruce and his wife were in the audience.
�As we move forward, there is no question that Hawaiian Gardens is a safer city,� stated Baca, � and at the same time we realize the injunction has been dramatic for a lot of people. Our ultimate goal is for everyone to get off of the injunction. it�s the idea that with people involved in gangs and who are involved in crime. This is not acceptable in the City of Hawaiian Gardens.� He said an individual can make a choice. They can go along with the gangs, and while they live in Hawaiian Gardens, they can go outside the city and commit a crime. That�s not acceptable. �The choice is there, and that�s really the point of all this� he said.
Baca said no one wants to be on the injunction the rest of his or her lives. He said one gentleman was wrongfully put on the injunction list from past membership. He left the gang and the city and years later moved back to Hawaiian Gardens. He had all the tattoos. He had everything except one thing. He hadn�t committed a crime in over 25-to-30 years. He had gotten married and had a family. He became educated and was doing the right thing. He�s trying to continue peacefully with his own private life. These are the things we have to resolve.
�Hawaiian Gardens and other cities deserve to be gang free and I think the intervention program we will be doing for those who are on the injunction that are associates of gang members will be very helpful, and I believe the pastor will work with us on that. He said the Council has a consultant working on this matter. He said they have a meeting coming up shortly and have a lot more work to do. He said the key is if anyone has any concerns the sheriff department will respond whatever the complaint is. He concluded by saying, �We will try to resolve all of them.�
He said what we are trying to do is help our youth who do not have to be brought up as gang members. We want to make the city as crime free as possible. �We know no one is perfect, including me.�