Juvenile delinquency (1955)

52 JUVENILE DELINQUENCY high schools and made a straightforward appeal to the young citizens to participate in the planned activities and to refrain from destructive type of celebration. The activities of this program can be quickly summarized by saying that since its initiation Halloween has become an enjoyable event in Pomona, looked forward to by adults as well as children. No extra policemen are required for patrol duty on Halloween nights, and our businessmen no longer expect to find their store windows soaped the morning following Halloween. In fact, as a result of these activities we haven't had one window soaped or one fire hydrant opened or one bit of vandalism on Halloween. This is certainly an indication of what youth can do if given an opportunity and if given recognition. We had a gang problem in the city of Pomona. In February 1952 two elements of Pomona's youthful society were readied for open war- fare. Because of a series of circumstances beginning with an insult- ing handshake, the situation grew to warlike proportions. This de- partment was in receipt of inside information indicating that nearly 200 youths were about to set upon a Mexican neigliborhood with such weapons as rifles, shotguns, sidearms, hand grenades, dynamite, and homemade bombs. One skirmish between these two factions resulted in several cars being nearly demolished and the hospitalization of at least two individuals with serious injuries. Because of the imminence of the crisis, the idea of a truce meeting between the factions was hit upon and successfully carried out. Since that time there has been no group violence between Caucasian and Mexican-American groups. Chairman Kefauver. Chief Parker, I don't like to interrupt, but the people in the back can't hear you at all, so they are misbehaving a little bit back there. Will you speak louder ? If you would speak louder, may be you would have better attention from the back row. Mr. Parker. The leaders and the outstanding members of each group did come doAvn to the police department, and we did appeal to them to settle their differences in a democratic manner, and as a result we talked them into forming clubs and so forth, in which the county probation department, as Mr. Sanders pointed out, has done a wonder- ful job. Our local merchants and our local service clubs have fol- lowed through, and the same boys that were wielding bic3'cle chains, clubs, can openers, knives, and so forth, at each other, are now getting first prizes on their floats in the parades. One of them was a float made upon a religious theme called "United Under God," and it was certainly wonderful to see those same fellows, who were booing the police department and creating these disturbances, riding down one of our main streets on a float. One of our officers was killed in the line of duty, and one of these clubs donated a considerable sum to the officer's widow, as well as making good donations to charitable groups. We feel that by the police department taking the initiative in estab- lishing fellowship among the youths is certainly putting us well on the way in crime prevention. The police department has several programs in which they put on dances for the youths, sponsor baseball leagues, and they also send one man to the California Boys' League in Sacramento as a counselor. I believe that is about all I have to offer today.