The shooting death of 20-year-old Miguel Angel Martin near Virginia Avenue Park last week is just the latest incident of gang-related violence in the Pico Neighborhood. In the wake of such incidents, law enforcement officials routinely describe gang violence as a “regional problem,” as oftentimes gang members who live outside the city are responsible for the violent crimes that take place in Santa Monica’s limits. This week’s Q-Line question asks: Has the time come to disband the Santa Monica Police Department and contract with the LA County Sheriff’s Department in efforts to stem gang violence? Call (310) 285-8106 before Friday at 5 p.m. and we’ll print your answers in next weekend’s edition of the Daily Press. Please limit responses to a minute or less.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 4, 2007. Read the original PDF.