HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/04/2009 00 Misc Distributed at the MeetingZais, Dick
From: Granato, Sam
Sent: Monday, August 03, 2009 5:07 PM
To: Zais, Dick; Edler, Dave; Rodriguez, Sonia; Adkison, Maureen
Subject: Letter to Legislative Delegation
Importance: High
TO: Representative Charles Ross
CC: Representative Norm Johnson
Senator Curtis King
FROM: Chief Sam Granato
STREET ADDRESS: 200 S 3rd St
Yakima, WA 98901 -2830
EMAIL: sgranato @ci.yakima.wa.us
PHONE: (509) 575 - 6211
SUBJECT: Lack of Cooperation from Dept. Of Corrections
MESSAGE:
8/3/2009
Page 1 of 2
Charles,
'Sorry to be contacting you on such a negative note, but we need your help to get assistance from the
Department of Corrections in regards all information related to the gang members on parole from the
Department of Corrections living in Yakima County.
The Governor authorized a DOC Specialist to be assigned to the Yakima Violent Crimes Task Force
which as you know started thanks to your forceful direction. We started a few months ago and with the
spike in gang related violence in Yakima it is becoming apparent many of these individuals are involved
or directing some of the violence. We recommend regular unannounced home visits by our officers
teamed with DOC to ensure they are abiding by their conditions of release like not hanging around other
gang members or convicted felons! If they are violating the terms of their release, the DOC officer can
order them into custody on the spot.
The assigned Specialist was assigned to gather this information from the Threat Group Intelligence
Office of DOC so that information could be added to our gang data base as well as our criminal
intelligence database. She was denied this information based on that it was going to be used for "Law
Enforcement Purposes ". It was eventually received through other channels but not in electronic format.
Our crime analyst had a couple of months ago attempted to get this intelligence and was also denied. At
that time we were not in-the situation we are now and it was not pursued then.
Additionally we are being told of an enormous amount of intelligence not being passed to local agencies
regarding the violence and who is calling the shots from prison and this is not being shared. We feel
that many of the younger gang members are being mentored by these prison gang members who are
on release. A recent ambush on YSO Deputies I am sure you are aware of by a teen gang member in
the lower valley is an example of this since statements made by him to witnesses according to
investigators was that he was "earning his stripes" Many people not familiar with prison jargon related it
to the military jargon of becoming a corporal or Sgt. but it has its beginnings when convicts wore striped
uniforms. The National Gang Threat Assessment speaks to this issue of gangs recruiting young people
into the gangs to deal drugs for them and to move drugs for them especially in rural and suburban
communities, thus driving the violence up to fight over who will deal the drugs.
It is my experienced and professional opinion we are turning a page in the gang evolution in Yakima
and that for prison gang members it is less about he territory than it is about the "money" and they will
enforce their code with extreme violence and without warning. They have a higher level of sophistication
and that the Violent Crimes Task Force must be given all the tools necessary to deal with these
criminals and get them off the street.
Page 2 of 2
I want to make it clear that this may all be a misunderstanding or interpretation of outdated policies or
antiquated laws, but this must change as it has bearing on the overall mission of public safety and that
should be the priority. This information should be readily shared with law enforcement when requested
and communications opened up when intelligence is received of potential threats or criminal activity in
our communities by DOC Threat Group Intelligence.
I would hope your inquiry would begin that cooperation.
I have included Senator King and Norm so they are aware.
sincerely
Sam Granato
� ,rte
CHIEF OF POLICE
YAKIMA POLICE DEPARTMENT
200 S.31RD ST.
YAKIMA,WA. 98901
PH: 509.575.6211
FAX: 509.575.3003
WA__RNING- FOR_POLICE_USE ONLY NOT FOR PUBLIC
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8/3/2009