In American Canyon, constant vigilance

By BILL KISLIUK
Register Editor

American Canyon sees gang activity wax and wane, but local officers say the key to keeping streets safe is to maintain a steady eye on local troublemakers.

“As far as recent incidents, it has been quiet,” said American Canyon Police Chief Brian Banducci. But, he said, “We’re not blind to the fact we have a gang problem. We’ve got known gang members. We know who they are, and when we run across them, we deal (with) them.”

One pending murder case from American Canyon has strong gang ties.

A teen named Edgar Aguilar is facing a murder charge in the October 2007 stabbing of Vallejo resident Manuel Macias in broad daylight near the old American Canyon Police Station. Aguilar is a Sureño, according to Napa prosecutors, while Macias was a Norteño.

Banducci said that while the city has a more diverse ethnic mix than the rest of the county, the dominant gangs in American Canyon are Sureños and Norteños.

“It’s not too much different from Napa” in that respect, said Banducci.

AmCan is also using tools similar to those in other cities. Banducci said the city has a diversion program where juveniles involved in vandalism are ordered to clean up graffiti. Koford, who is Banducci’s predecessor as police chief in the city, said the presence of resource officers at American Canyon Middle School has made a big difference.

When the resource officer program began, said Koford, “We started getting a better pulse on what we could expect in the future. Information would come through the schools about kids grouping and posturing” on campus.

As for the older gang members, said Koford, they require old-fashioned police work. “You have to be out on the street, making contacts.”

Banducci said two officers are assigned to gang investigations as part of their duties.

The city is also in touch with the Vallejo Police Department and Solano County Sheriff’s Department to keep tabs on what is developing nearby.

Banducci acknowledges that gang activity spills over from Vallejo at times. For example, Napa County prosecutors say gang tensions were part of the problem on the night when Vallejo teen Junor Douglas fired a bullet at an AmCan party, killing unintended target Anthony Gee in January 2007.

Earlier this month Junor Douglas was sentenced to 70 years in prison. His brother Marquis, who brought the gun to the party, was sentenced to 20 years in prison.

Koford, who was police chief when the city was incorporated, said the city has been supportive of gang suppression efforts from the get-go.

“Even though the names and faces of the city council have changed, every councilmember I dealt with was very supportive of public safety,” he said.

Banducci and Koford said that even the quiet times require vigilance, including help from the school resource officers and the community.

“Once you let up,” said Koford, “for sure something will flare out.”

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