The Region V Anti-Gang Intelligence Led Policing Program is a project designed to combat the increasing problem with gang violence in recent years. As a result the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) was successful in applying to the U.S. Department of Justice for $1.4 million in federal funds under the Targeting Violent Crime Initiative. O.E.S. is re-granting those funds to designated Sheriff’s Departments within the agency’s seven Law Enforcement Mutual Aid (LEMA) regions across the state. The program is known as the Regional Anti-Gang Intelligence-Led Policing Program.

The Tulare County Sheriff’s Department is the designated grantee for LEMA Region V. The participating departments within Region V are Kern, Kings, Fresno, Madera, Merced and Mariposa counties. The grant represents a natural progression for gang violence suppression, identification and multi-agency cooperation.

Objectives:

1. The Tulare County Sheriff’s Department has designated a Region V Anti-Gang Coordinator from it’s ranks of Gang Violence Suppression Detectives. The coordinator will work with O.E.S. and other participating agency coordinators through out the Region V participating agencies in developing a communication network on county, municipal and community levels. Contacts will be made through e-mail, telephone, fax, letter and in-person conferences. The purpose of the contacts is to increase communication between departments and gang suppression units through out the Region V area. By increasing the contacts and developing coordinators, the individual department gang units are benefitting by exchanging up to date information and will be able to "map"and identify the ever changing gang trends.
2. Information gathered is inputted into a coordinated database that can be accessed by Law Enforcement only and is used primarily to identify specific gangs, members, associates and criminal activity through out the state.
3. Coordinate community anti-gang efforts through the regional network of anti-gang coordinators.
4. Utilize the information gathered through the regional network to facilitate anti-gang, intelligence-led policing, including the collection and reporting information required by BJA performance measures.