Gang Shootings Have Yakima Police Concerned

A string of shootings in Yakima have police concerned about growing gang activity. City Manager, Tony O'Rourke says there is a strategy in place. The 3 elements to this strategy are prevention, intervention and suppression. He says right now the focus is on suppression.
There is a 10 member gang unit in place, along with a new partnership with the federal government, directing the efforts on violent crime.  O'Rourke says things are improving.

"We're seeing over the last year in particular, a reduction in the day-to-day issues but we still have these homicides. Even though we've had 3 this year, all related to gangs, the good news is that's less than we've been experiencing over the last decade or two," said O'Rourke.

Just a few years ago, the number of homicides per year were in the double digits, O'Rourke adds.

Last year, there were a total of two homicides in Yakima.

The long term plan is trying to identify at-risk kids early enough and change their course.

That includes partnering with organizations like YPAL and the Yakima schools.