Gangs, officials' responses are topics at Yakima town hall meeting on crime

May 05--YAKIMA, Wash. -- Seven years ago, Petra Rivera's son, Daniel, died after being shot several times in front of his home by gang members just because the 18-year-old was wearing a red shirt.

Rivera says she only spoke to a detective once about her son's death. Her repeated calls to the detective brought no closure to her or the case, which remains unsolved.

She told her story Thursday night to Yakima County Prosecuting Attorney Joe Brusic and police chiefs from departments across the county during a town hall meeting to address a resurgence in violence that has rocked the city more than once this year.

"To this day we don't know what happened," Rivera told a crowd of more than 75 at Davis High School's auditorium.

Rivera's complaint about a lack of response from police or prosecutors was echoed by several others in the crowd.

One woman told how her daughter had recently overdosed on drugs but that she was unsuccessful in getting help from a narcotics detective with the Yakima Police Department. An officer immediately took her aside and began interviewing her.

Much of the discussion centered on the area's gang problems, and how police need more commitment from residents in providing information about crime.

While several in the crowd spoke in support of law enforcement efforts in the community, others said they had little faith in police and that's causing a reluctance among residents to come forward as witnesses.

After the meeting, Brusic agreed his office and police need to work harder to respond to residents about cases.

He promised to address the issue next week during the county's monthly law enforcement administrators meeting.

"That's the big thing I heard tonight," he said. "We need to communicate better, and that's really important.

"I think we do a good job -- I really think we do -- but we can do better."

Some residents shared ideas, saying there needs to be more gang-prevention programs.

Maria Bosworth said she'd like a commitment from police that residents who step up and provide information will be protected.

"If you want us to put ourselves out there and provide information, then you need to protect us," she said.

She also said residents need training from police about how to report crime, such as what details officers want.

One woman stood up, looked over the room and asked, "Where are the Hispanics? We need the Hispanics here." She characterized the meeting as only having half the community.

Rivera said the most information she learned about her son's death came from a 10-year-old neighbor girl. Most Latinos don't report crime because they do not trust police or want to be labeled a snitch in their neighborhood, she said.

Plain-clothed officers would have better luck getting residents to reveal what they know, Rivera said.

"I think there are people who are willing to talk, she said.

Yakima Police Chief Dominic Rizzi said the meeting was a good start, and more would be held to keep an ongoing dialogue in hopes of getting better participation from residents in gang-ridden areas.

"We need the community activists in those neighborhoods here," he said. "How do we get them to step up? That's the point."

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