Pomona police net 165 arrests, seize 25 firearms during three week operation

Pomona Police Chief David Keetle talks about a recent joint operation with the U.S. Marshals Service during a press conference in the Pomona City Council Chambers in Pomona on Tuesday. Jennifer Cappuccio Maher — staff photographer
By Doug Saunders, San Bernardino Sun
Posted: 09/03/13, 6:10 PM PDT | Updated: 5 hrs ago



Seized weapons on display as the Pomona Police Department holds a press conference.

POMONA >> Police along with the United States Marshal’s Service made 165 arrests and seized 25 firearms in a three-week long joint operation to reduce gang violence.

“This operation took the guns out of the hands of would-be killers, drugs and very dangerous people off the street,” said Sgt. Hector Rodriguez. “We are also working on leads we received during the operation that may help us solve a few of our homicides this year.”

All of Pomona’s 21 homicides that occurred in the city this year remain unsolved, and all are believed to be narcotics or gang-related, Rodriguez said.

The three-week enforcement dubbed “Operation Triple Beam” focused on targeting gang violence in Pomona, although in the late afternoon hours Saturday, 17-year-old San Bernardino teen Deon Christopher Davis was found shot to death in the 1200 block of Cromwell Street. Police have no suspect information. Police believe the motive was gang related.

Los Angeles County Coroner’s officials said Davis was shot multiple times with a handgun.

Officials said one of the purposes of the operation was to remove “tools of the trade” from gang members and to swarm high crime areas in the city with a police presence.

It also gained resources focusing on the apprehension of known fugitives who had arrest warrants for violent crimes as well as conducting compliance checks on known sex offenders.
“We will continue to use every tool and partnership available in our effort to combat gang violence in the city,” said Police Chief Dave Keetle.

Residents continue to be concerned.

“Sometimes it just feels like the police don’t care about the victims,” said Pomona resident Felicia Brown. “Just because the murder victims were gang bangers doesn’t mean the cops should just look the other way.”

Police say they are not looking the other way but rather seeking help from the public.

“We investigate every single lead on every murder case and take every investigation very seriously. Gang murders are always difficult to solve,” Rodriguez said. “With the help of the public, we believe we can make some progress. Often times, these cases take months and sometimes years to solve, which can be frustrating for everyone, especially the families of the victims.”

Anyone with information relating to major crimes is asked to call the Pomona Police Department at 909-620-2095.


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