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# Ganging up on SMPD isn’t the answer
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/ganging-up-on-smpd-isnt-the-answer/
- Published: 2007-01-06T16:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T23:39:30.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import, Homeless

This past week, Q-line asked: 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? Here are your responses: “YES, I THINK IT IS TIME FOR SANTA Monica to contract with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. Borders are melting and crime is overflowing into our city like never before. It has become both a target and hiding place for gang members and criminals. A closer association with the LAPD would be most beneficial and productive.”

“GANGS HAVE TO BE TAUGHT A LESSON. Put the national guard in L.A. instead of Baghdad. We need them here. Instead of letting (gang members) out of prison, keep them in prison longer, keep them in prison forever if need be. At least give them the maximum sentence.”

“THE SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENTS HAVE the responsibility of policing county areas and have authority over municipal law enforcement agencies. To disband the Santa Monica Police Department would be purely ludicrous. In simple terms, the sheriff’s department is already here in Santa Monica and could arrest gang members if they wanted to, but not for free. To fight any form of crime properly costs millions of dollars, and even the federal government, with its fat cash, has not put a dent in crime. A few years ago, 40 young men and women were standing on a street corner in south Los Angeles and were arrested for selling drugs. Within two hours, there were 40 more young men and women standing on that same street corner, selling drugs. Taking the profit out of various forms of crime such as drugs by legalizing and then controlling would cut back on a great deal of crime due to drugs being where the high profits are found. Still, no matter what’s done, crime and gangs will always be with us.”

“SANTA MONICA POLICE HAVE SPECIAL dealings with the homeless in Santa Monica. Los Angeles has their own problems with their own gangs in their territories. The Santa Monica police know more about the area than sheriff’s office will.”

“CONTRACT SMPD TO LAPD YOU SAY? I have a better idea. Why not contract out to the Mexican PD? After all, we are constantly told how the Mexicans can do our jobs better and cheap-er. We are practically Mexico anyway, so this would just be the next logical step in curtailing gang violence that is often related to Mexico. ‘Bring it on,’ as President Bush would say.”

“DISBANDING THIS POLICE DEPARTMENT is the most ridiculous thing this newspaper has ever done. This police department has lowered crime rates to all-time lows, has a great reputation and has a very good reputation for solving a lot of serious crimes. To suggest something like this is totally ludicrous.”

“ABSOLUTELY NOT. WE SHOULD KEEP our own police department. I think the problem with the gang violence is that we are not providing information to parents of these children. Some kids are easy, some kids are difficult to raise. I think we need more support for the parents. I think the police are doing a wonderful job.”

“IF A PERSON IS A RESIDENT OF SANTA Monica and commits a crime in Los Angeles, the LAPD is responsible. Conversely, if someone commits a crime in Santa Monica, SMPD is responsible. Let’s retain the Santa Monica Police Department. The smaller the bureaucracy, the easier it is to get services.”

“GANG VIOLENCE IS EPIDEMIC, misunderstood, and unfortunately, has tentacles that reach out of darkness and pull our children and families into anguish. The Santa Monica Police Department has a gallant reputation dating back to the 1800s, and many members of this fine police department were born in Santa Monica and live in or near the community. A large percentage of our officers have college degrees, and, most of all, none have spent the five to seven years guarding county prisoners as a prerequisite to patrol duty. This sheriff’s department “jail duty” hardens even the most compassionate, aspiring police officer. Look at one of the most dangerous areas in the United States — Compton. The occupation of the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department has done little to stem the murder rate. Please do not let Santa Monica mirror the political mindset of Compton. Even the suggestion that the Santa Monica Police Department be replaced is absurd.”

“I DON’T THINK WE OUGHT TO SWITCH over to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department. I think the Santa Monica department is one of the finest in this country and in the regional area. I think the problem with the gangs cannot be solved by the police department alone. Even though the Santa Monica Police Department is one of the best-trained in the area, I think it is a social problem that can be solved with education and parents taking care of their kids.”

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on January 6, 2007.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/010607.pdf?ref=smdp.com)