Operation Phoenix Mayor Pat Morris' Crime-Fighting Program for San Bernardino

Mayor Patrick J. Morris has developed and implemented Operation Phoenix, a multi-jurisdictional neighborhood based attack on crime and violence.  The purpose of Operation Phoenix is to provide a data driven, coordinated response to crime and related family and youth issues in targeted areas in the City.

Suppression, Intervention, and Prevention.  These are the pillars upon which we are re-building our City out of the ashes of crime and violence and into a shining example of peace, prosperity and renewal.

Suppression

1. Hire 40 new police officers to fully and permanently implement the Police BEAT System - There is no better method for rooting-out and responding to criminal activity than having police officers rigorously patrolling every neighborhood in our City. Our commitment to public safety must be stronger if we are to take back our streets. I implore the City Council to conduct an emergency meeting and authorize the hiring of additional officers immediately.

2. Increase use of gang injunctions & sweeps - We must greatly expand the use of injunctions against known street gangs in our City's neighborhoods. These highly effective injunctions prohibit gang members from associating with one another and significantly restricts their ability to commit the crimes that plague our streets.

3. Target illegal gun and drug traffickers for tougher sentencing guidelines - Most violent crime involves guns and drug trafficking, which are federal offenses and qualify for tougher criminal sentencing. We must target and federally prosecute traffickers that illegally supply the guns and drugs to gangs and youth in our community.

4. Coordinate resources with State and Federal authorities - The quest for law enforcement assistance and funding must be collaborative and must invoke all levels of government. To obtain the necessary resources to fight this battle we must mobilize personnel and resources from the County Sheriff, County Probation, State Parole, California Highway Patrol and the US Attorney's Office.

Intervention

5. Use technology to track violent parolees 24-7 - Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) anklets have been used very successfully to track sexual offenders. We must now expand the use of GPS anklets to all violent parolees to track their movements.

6. Increase security infrastructure - We will improve street lighting and install surveillance cameras on City streets, alleys and in apartment complexes that are considered "high-risk" locations for criminal activity.

7. Utilize aggressive code enforcement and demolition of abandoned buildings - We will aggressively pursue demolition of abandoned buildings that are dangerous and/or create a public nuisance. We will hold property owners and landlords accountable for conditions that spawn crime, and we will close down rental properties that fail to comply.

8. Aggressively attack non-violent crime & fully support community courts - People must be held accountable for non-violent crime (drug use and low-level drug possession, prostitution, graffiti, vandalism, disorderly conduct, aggressive panhandling, etc.) that often goes unpunished and can lead to more troubling and violent criminal conduct. Suppression, Intervention, and Prevention. These are the pillars upon which we will re-build our City out of the ashes of crime and violence and into a shining example of peace, prosperity and renewal.

9. Appoint Mayoral liaison to strengthen police-neighborhood partnerships - I will create a special liaison in the Mayor's office to attend all neighborhood-police meetings and report to me on all ideas and requests for public assistance/improvements that would improve neighborhood safety and reduce crime.

Prevention

10. Join and support San Bernardino County's Healthy Babies Initiative - San Bernardino County is launching a comprehensive local health initiative to attack the current epidemic of babies born to mothers using alcohol or drugs, a factor that significantly increases a child's future involvement in the criminal justice system. Yet the City must participate fully in this program, something I am correcting in my administration.

11. Identify affordable & quality pre-school opportunities - We must actively support and promote affordable, quality childcare and preschool programs, which have been shown to greatly reduce future criminal conduct among youth.

12. Develop "new" vocational curriculum with school district officials - In order to motivate "at-risk" students to complete their education we must offer alternatives to a curriculum dominated by college prep and academic classes. I will strongly advocate for our school district to adopt a "new" vocational curriculum -- preparing students both to work and to pursue further education.

13. Expand after school programs - Having quality youth development programs is critical to breaking the hold of gangs and drugs in our neighborhoods. Working with the police, schools, non-profits, and the faith-based community, San Bernardino must vastly expand its support and number of opportunities for such after school programs.

14. Increase youth sports programs - We must continue looking for every available opportunity to expand the number of youth participating in this healthy lifestyle choice, especially in areas of our City where there are no parks or recreational facilities.

15. Create police-sponsored activities league - Police engagement with youth in a police-sponsored activities league (PAL) and other after school recreation activities will build trust and set positive values.

16. Revitalize participation in neighborhood associations - We have neighborhood watches and neighborhood associations, but many lack the full participation of area residents. They must be fully engaged to help spot and resolve local problems.

17. Transform San Bernardino from a "City of Renters" into a "City of Owners" - Over the years San Bernardino has become a City of renters and it is a common understanding that "nobody paints a rented house." Using available local and state affordable housing funds, we will institute first-time homeowner programs to assist families to acquire a stake in our City.

18. Adopt civic beautification partnership - Using the CALTRANS freeway adoption model, civic-minded businesses and service organizations will be afforded the opportunity to adopt, clean up and beautify City streets.