Chief tells what's on the Simi Valley crime horizon
By Kyle Jorrey kjorrey@theacorn.com

THE HARD FACTS- Simi Valley Police Chief Mike Lewis speaks to a full house at his first-ever "Chief's Luncheon," held this past Wednesday at the Lost Canyons Golf Club's main ballroom. Lewis shared a presentation on local crime statistics before fielding questions from audience members. Lewis, who came over from the Ventura County's Sheriff's Department, is in his eighth month as chief.

Speaking before more than 100 community members in the main ballroom of Lost Canyons Golf Club, Simi Valley Police Chief Mike Lewis reiterated the point he's been making since the the department released the city's Part I crime statistics in February: Simi Valley is a safer city now than it was 20 years ago.

Nevertheless, Lewis used the floor at his first-ever "Chief's Luncheon," sponsored by the Simi Valley Police Foundation, to speak candidly about crime issues- primarily graffiti, gangs, transients and property crimes- that are affecting the quality of life of Simi residents.

Lewis began his presentation by taking a few well-aimed shots at the California voterapproved Proposition 36, which the chief said has played a role in the city's recent spike in property-related crimes like burglary, larceny and fraud. Prop 36, the Substance Abuse and Crime Prevention Act, went into effect in July 2001, allowing first and second-time nonviolent, simple drug possession offenders to receive substance abuse treatment instead of going to jail.

"Law enforcement everywhere pretty much predicted it was going to be a dismal failure, and that's become fact," Lewis said.

The chief said when drug offenders avoid incarceration, it often means they are back on the street committing crimes to support their habits.

"I'll be quite frank- we ought to put them in jail where they belong, and that would affect crime statistics," Lewis said.

Lewis, who was sworn in exactly seven months before Wednesday's address, explained his decision to dissolve the city's "7th beat" and reassign those officers to the department's Special Operations section, which includes the gang and graffiti units.

"I've had that unit fully staffed since November. That's the group responsible for keeping contact with our known offenders, for being proactive in fighting crime, and I think that's very important. I think we're heading in the right direction," Lewis told the audience.

Some of the chief's most enlightening comments were made during the luncheon's Q & A session and focused on efforts by police and residents to combat escalating crime in Old Simi- the few blocks between First and Fifth streets that have become a hotbed for late-night gang activity.

"There's a certain fear factor there," Lewis said. "Many of the residents in that neighborhood come home from work, lock their doors and don't come out until the next day. Some of us here couldn't imagine that."

But winds of change are beginning to blow, the chief said, thanks to a motivated group of Old Simi residents, some of whose families have lived in the community for generations.

"This is an area that's going through some changes . . . there are a lot of great owners in there who take a lot of pride and ownership over that neighborhood," Lewis said. "Most are Hispanic- some speak English, some don't- and that's part of the challenge."

Lewis said the department has upped its presence in the area, patrolling the streets both on foot and on bicycle, and residents themselves were scheduled to meet Thursday night to form a Neighborhood Watch program.

"They're making an effort- now all we need to do is back it up, support them," Lewis said.

Speaking to that point, Lewis shared the news that the police department was in the final stages of purchasing its first-ever mobile command center with the help of city-acquired grant money.

"It's basically a 30-foot Class A motor home," the chief said.

Lewis said the department could use the trailer to set up shop at the Cajun Festival and share information or bring it into a highcrime area to provide a constant police presence for a set amount of time.

The 45minutelong presentation concluded with Lewis' response to a question from Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District board member Elaine Freeman concerning the rumored release of more than 60,000 inmates from the California Penal System in order to relieve overcrowding.

Unfortunately, Lewis said, Freeman has cause for concern.

"It's a scene that's really going to turn ugly, and it's going to happen by July of next year," he said. "The county is shouldering the response to what the state is doing."