RivCo Sheriff Sniff reacts to attacks on Hemet gang task force
Sniff said the agency is offering whatever help is necessary to catch the person or people who has tried to kill a member Hemet-San Jacinto Gang Task Force three separate times since Dec. 31.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Riverside County Sheriff Stanley Sniff has been involved in law enforcement for decades, but he has never seen anything like the recent string of attacks like those targeting the Hemet-based gang task force.
“This is particularly scary,” said Sniff, whose agency is a member of the task force. “Targeting an entire police unit tells you this is someone who is a danger to the entire community.”
Sniff said the agency is offering whatever help is necessary to catch the person or people who has tried to kill a member Hemet-San Jacinto Gang Task Force three separate times since Dec. 31.
“When attacks like this occur, that is a whole new level of violence,” Sniff said. “If someone is willing to attack officers, then the community sees that differently than the random violence that takes place.”
In Friday’s incident, an officer from the Hemet-San Jacinto Gang Task Force arrived in an unmarked car at an AM/PM on Sanderson and Acacia avenues about 8 a.m., entered the store and found a suspicious device next to the vehicle when he returned. The device was attached to the officer’s vehicle and fell off when he parked the car.
Lt. Duane Wisehart said at the time the officer never touched the item and did not notice it when he got out of his vehicle.
In one case discovered Dec. 31, the assailants manipulated natural gas line into a building used by the task force, filling it with gas in an attempt to set off an explosion. In the second incident, a weapon was rigged to go off as an officer opened the gate leading to the building. In that case, the round narrowly missed the officer. In Friday’s incident, a device described by Wisehart as a booby-trap was attached to the officer’s vehicle and fell off as he parked the car.
The case has been difficult for investigators, in part, because there have been few clues and little in the way of leads. Wisehart said no threats have been made against members of the task force and the attacks themselves have been varied. In each incident, Wisehart said, a different officer was involved.
The task force, one of several in the county, is made up of officers from Hemet, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Riverside Probation Department, Riverside County District Attorney’s office and other agencies.
Sniff said the incidents have prompted officials to tell their officers to be on the alert, to change their patterns of behavior and be aware of their surroundings.
“Like most people at work, officers can get complacent if they are not careful,” Sniff said. “That can be dangerous. We are all creatures of habit. We get into a routine and become complacent. We remind them to change their patterns.”
Riverside County supervisors agreed recently to post a $100,000 reward for information leading to the capture of whoever tried to kill anti-gang officers at their headquarters. Wisehart said last week he did not know if any new tips have come in since the reward was offered.
Tags: hemet, Hemet-San Jacinto Gang Task Force, Lt. Duane Wisehart, Riverside County District Attorney, Riverside County Sheriff’s Department, Riverside Probation Department, stanley sniff, SWRNN
Email
Bookmark
READER COMMENTS
one comment
POST A COMMENT
* Required to comment
-
- Honest to God
15 - UPDATE: Fire in Wildomar at 15 acres; homes no longer threatened 11
- UPDATE: Valle Vista neighborhoods still closed after reports of gunfire; some residents stranded 10
- Look who's turning 1! SWRNN celebrates one-year anniversary 10
- 17-year-old Canyon Lake girl reported missing 8
- Prop 8 struck down by U.S. District judge in San Francisco today 6
- Local photographer will display work at MSJC Menifee campus Sept. 8 6
- Palm Desert DUI checkpoint nabs five drivers 5
- Police: Man uses bodily fluids to taint female co-worker's water bottle 5
- 'Ground Zero Mosque' furor not unlike debate over Temecula Islamic center 5
- Honest to God
-
- Man's cut-short prison sentence for 1983 killing of mother could be renewed Bruce Lisker, 45, was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 16 years to life in prison for the 1983 of fatally beating and stabbing his 66-year-old mother, Dorka, at her Sherman Oaks home. He was 17 years old at the time and using drugs.
- Brush fire near Campo by Pacific Crest Trail spreads to 300 acres The blaze created highly visible black smoke as it spread to the edge of Star Ranch, a working horse and cattle ranch and historical attraction.
- Los Angeles Unified votes to overhaul teacher evaluation process UTLA officials have been critical of a decision by the Los Angeles Times to post report cards for thousands of teachers, based on their students' scores on standardized tests.
- Menifee boy walks to save hearts after surviving rare heart condition In his short life, he has found something bigger to participate in each year -- the American Heart Association’s San Diego Heart Walk. Michael, along with Team Beat It members made up of family, friends and his past and present teachers, plans to walk in this year’s event on Sept. 19.
- Student who threatened community college professor in SD County arrested Oscar Torres, 22, also allegedly threatened the college community.
- Man accused of helping suspect after killing of Hemet teen pleads guilty Ivan Ruiz entered his plea this week and was sentenced to six months in custody, while given 13 days credit for time he has already served.
Comment by: Arrest made in series of attacks against Hemet police and city facilities Posted: July 3, 2010, 12:51 pm
[...] Sheriff Sniff reacts to attacks [...]