The Orange County Sheriff's Office Gang Enforcement Unit was established in January of 1990, as a result of gang related problems. These problems included an increase in drive-by shootings and other violent crimes and culminated with an innocent bystander being shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in West Orange County during January of 1990.
The Orange County Sheriff's Office took a pro-active stance in forming the Gang Enforcement Unit. The unit has full-time Gang Crimes Investigators, a full-time Gang Crimes Analyst and a Supervisor. Since its inception, the Gang Enforcement Unit has been on the cutting edge in the fight against gangs. This aggressive enforcement posture has helped our community to create a climate in which it is difficult for gangs to flourish and grow.
Since identifying and targeting known problem areas and key gang members, we have had a decrease in drive-by shootings and violent crimes involoving gangs. This decrease is a result of the zero tolerance of gangs and the proactive stance taken by the Sheriff's Office on the gang issue.