A six-month pilot program to step up law enforcement in Anaheim's troubled Jeffrey-Lynne neighborhood--known by its residents as "Tijuanita," or Little Tijuana--ended this spring. Some say that the concentrated foot patrols and mobile units made a lasting difference. Others fear that the old criminal activity, which had dipped during the pilot project, is creeping back.
The problem is that Anaheim says it can't afford to keep up the special level of policing in one area. It's reassigning the unit of five officers to target 10 neighborhoods that have high crime rates, including Jeffrey-Lynne. But the success of the Jeffrey-Lynne project makes it clear just how valuable such a concentration of effort was for the community. At the risk of losing all progress, there's really no turning back. There may be some middle ground possible--say, fewer officers than before but better organized and trained neighborhood watch groups to work with police.
