14 violent gang members deported from T.O. last year

Fourteen fewer violent gang members are roaming the streets of Thousand Oaks, a result of the partnering last year of the police department's special enforcement gang unit with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

After Thousand Oaks became a part of Operation Community Shield, an ICE nationwide gang enforcement program, 14 criminal street gang members who are foreign nationals were deported from the city in 2008.

"Having one gang member being deported is big. Having 14 deported is huge," said Sgt. Mark O'Donnell of the special enforcement gang unit.

Seven of the 14 deportees were members of the El Salvadoran MS-13 gang, according to a police report.

The parent of a member of the Tocas gang—another gang caught in the sweep—was arrested and convicted for witness intimidation. At the conclusion of the sentence, the parent was transferred to federal authorities and is currently out of custody on an immigration bond awaiting a deportation hearing, Detective Eric Buschow said.

The deported gang members were sent back to Mexico, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Peru. Some have returned to the U.S. and are facing justice and deportation again, authorities said.

"The majority don't return to our area," O'Donnell said. "The advantage of the partnership has been having an ICE agent assigned to work directly with our gang unit to identify local criminals who are also foreign nationals," said sheriff's department Capt. Randy Pentis. "ICE's joint gang enforcement efforts with the Thousand Oaks Police Department have yielded impressive results," said Robert Schoch, special agent in charge of the ICE Office of Investigations in Los Angeles.

Pooling leads, resources and expertise is how the partnership removed dangerous gang members from the community, he said.

"ICE will continue to work closely with local law enforcement to target transnational gangs and promote public safety," Schoch said.

"Working with ICE has been a tremendous help," O'Donnell said.

But there are still 190 documented gang members ages 12 to 39 in the city of Thousand Oaks who are actively recruiting more members, O'Donnell said.

It may be hard for the layman to identify a gang member simply by appearance. Many young people imitating musicians and other celebrities now have tattoos and wear baggy pants, O'Donnell said. Gang members are blending in as well.

"The stereotypical look has changed," he said.

Still, parents can watch for kids who suddenly shave their hair off, a clue they might be getting involved with a gang, he said.

"Parents know best when their kids are going astray, and parents just need to be parents," O'Donnell said.

Find out where they're going and who they're with, he said. If they're supposed to be at a friend's house, contact that friend's parents and make sure.

Suspected gang activity can be reported to 911 if it's an emergency. Gang activity in progress, but not an emergency can be reported at (805) 4948220. Anyone who wants to report suspicious gang involvement can call the gang unit at (805) 371-8330.