Yakima Polce Are Stepping Up Efforts to Fight Gang Violence

Yakima Police are stepping up efforts to attack the gang problem in Yakima. The Yakima City Council increased funding for the police department to double the size of the gang unit. The city has stepped up efforts to hold landlords accountable for illigal activity taking place on thier property. Yakima Police Chief Dominic Rizzi says current code enforcement laws are being used to hold landlords accountable. A gang hotline has been set up to allow people to call in with any information about gang activity in thier neighborhood. On "The Mike Bastinelli Show," Sargeant David Cortes, head of the gang unit, said, "The idea is to start recognizing problems before they become a huge problem, just tell us where the gang house is at, it eliminates me trying to guess, you can give us the information anonymously." The gang hotline is 575-GANG (4264).