Long Beach Police Chief addresses city’s rise in violent crime

A veteran cleansing his yard, a teenager strolling residence from work and a vendor promoting fruit in the midst of the afternoon are simply a few of the individuals killed throughout lethal shootings in Lengthy Seaside this 12 months. 

“I used to be strolling in every single place, on a regular basis,” resident Lucea Marquez stated. “However now I am unable to really feel secure.”

Within the first 5 months of the 12 months, the Lengthy Seaside Police Division stated they’ve seen an uptick in shootings and murders. Thus far this 12 months, there have been 137 shootings throughout the town, with 61 individuals wounded. It is an 8% improve from the identical time final 12 months. Murders have additionally spiked, with 9 thus far this 12 months, 4 greater than in 2023. 

Among the shootings occur proper in the midst of Lengthy Seaside neighborhoods and sadly go away their mark. Alongside a sidewalk outdoors of Briana Soto’s household residence lies a memorial for the 17-year-old. She was shot and killed whereas strolling on her manner residence. Police haven’t discovered her killer. 

“Anytime any person loses their life, it worries me,” Lengthy Seaside Police Chief Wally Hebeish stated.

Hebeish attributed the uptick in shootings and murders to gang violence. 

“What we’re seeing now could be a gang involvement in additional of the shootings than we have now seen within the two prior years,” he stated. 

In Might, the division launched a brand new Excessive Crime Focus Group, whose sole job is figuring out high-risk areas and other people. 

“Nearly all of shootings are taking place in our central space, which is west, south division and North Lengthy Seaside,” Hebeish stated. “These are the areas we need to we need to apply the sources we have now out there.”

Nevertheless, this transfer comes at a time when the division has a scarcity of officers. Regardless of this, officers declare that 80% of the murders have resulted in an arrest. 

“It isn’t nearly having a police officer on each nook,” Hebeish stated. “Whereas I might like to have that, it goes past legislation enforcement.”

The division can be working with neighborhood teams like gang intervention organizations. Hebeish believes each enforcement and neighborhood assist will assist make a change. 

“We’re dedicated to this whole metropolis and have been doing what we are able to to maintain everybody secure,” he stated.