In 1996, the President of the United States approved a federally funded program known as the Community Law Enforcement and Recovery Unit (CLEAR) in efforts to reduce gang crime in Los Angeles County. The CLEAR program involved multi-county agencies such as the District Attorney’s Office’s, City Attorney’s Office, the Probation Department, Sheriff’s Department and the Los Angeles Police Department. The objective of the CLEAR program is to combat gang crime and improve the quality of life in gang-ridden neighborhoods. The first CLEAR program in the City of Los Angeles went into effect in Northeast Division in 1997. Since then, three other CLEAR programs within the City have been implemented.

On August 1, 1999, Devonshire Division began its own CLEAR program. The Devonshire CLEAR program is made up of one Sergeant, one Detective and ten Police Officers. Working in collaboration with Devonshire CLEAR are three District Attorneys, one City Attorney and the Department of Probation. The Devonshire CLEAR Unit is designated to the Panorama City and North Hills area of the San Fernando Valley, specifically to combat the ongoing gang problem that has held these two communities hostage for many years.

In the first two weeks of the implementation of the Devonshire CLEAR Unit, there were 91 arrests for various felony and misdemeanor violations. The District Attorney’s Office has taken these gang related arrests seriously and has prosecuted several gang members to the fullest extent. For instance, a Mara Salva Trucha (MS) gang member was arrested by Devonshire CLEAR officers for possession of a dagger. This was his first recorded arrest. The MS gang member received a six-month county jail sentence for this offense. The long-term objective of the Devonshire CLEAR Unit is to focus on the most active gangs in the Panorama City and North Hills areas and permanently dismantle their criminal activity.

City Attorney’s and District Attorney’s CLEAR staff are determined to achieve a 100% conviction rate on gang crimes such as trespass, graffiti, curfew, carjacking, robbery, murder, attempted murder, etc. Comprehensive data, both statistical and observational, show evidence of crime reduction in CLEAR-targeted areas. Gang–related violent crime decreased by 39% in the targeted area and by 35% in the surrounding neighborhoods.

In addition to gang suppression activities, the Devonshire CLEAR Unit will establish a Community Impact Team, which will be comprised of area residents, community business members and other City entities that will focus on quality of life issues and gang intervention and prevention programs. The Devonshire Division community willingly and proudly accepts the arrival of the CLEAR program with a strong confidence of success.