ACLU QUESTIONS EFFECTIVENESS OF INJUNCTIONS IN FIGHTING GANGS.

Byline: Rick Orlov Daily News Staff Writer

As Los Angeles prepares to seek an injunction against the 18th Street Gang, the ACLU released a report Wednesday questioning the effectiveness of the gang-fighting tactic, saying a similar injunction on Blythe Street failed to reduce crime.

The American Civil Liberties Union said statistics obtained from the Los Angeles Police Department showed an increase in violent crime, drug sales and calls to police from 1993 to 1995 in the 20-square-mile area of Panorama City centered on the notorious street.

``We think this shows the injunction failed to do what was intended,'' said Alan Parachini, spokesman for the ACLU of Southern California. ``It may have been formulated in good faith, but it didn't work.''

Under terms of the injunction, gang members are forbidden from congregating, talking on the street or remaining in one location for more than five minutes at a time.

Despite the ACLU findings, City Attorney James Hahn defended use of the injunctions, a tactic that has been upheld by the Supreme Court, and he said that his office would proceed with plans to seek an injunction against the 18th Street Gang in July.

Police and community leaders also disputed the ACLU report called ``False Premise, False Promises,'' saying that life on Blythe Street is improving as fear on the street wanes.

``Anybody who lives on that block would argue vehemently that the quality of life has improved,'' said City Councilman Richard Alarcon. ``Also, they should look at all the statistics. They show that crime in the city and the 7th District is down considerably.

``The community feels we are doing positive things and I don't think they will pay much attention to a study like this.''

Assistant Chief Martin Pomeroy, who oversees the Valley Division, said the injunction has been effective.

``I find it hard to believe that what they say is accurate,'' Pomeroy said. ``The situation there has been vastly improved. It's been a helpful tool in promoting a sense of calm and peace in the neighborhood.''

Parachini, however, said the report used LAPD figures to show the injunction did not reduce crime at all.

In the area where Blythe Street is located, Parachini said figures showed that the number of crimes reported each month continued in the 35 to 40 range. The ACLU used figures only through 1995, Parachini said because that was the period in which a drop in crime would have been expected to be seen.

``There might be some legitimate reasons to remove civil rights from certain people, but we believe this report shows injunctions aren't the answers,'' Parachini said. ``What we hope will happen is to have a dialogue on other approaches that can be taken.''

Copies of the report were sent to District Attorney Gil Garcetti, who began a program where prosecutors are loaned to cities with serious gang problems to seek injunctions and crack down on gang activity.

The ACLU failed in its legal attempt to block the Blythe Street injunction.

Beyond the legal questions are questions of enforcement, said Albert Melena of the San Fernando Valley Partnership, which works with gang members on the street.

``It's worked as far as suppression in keeping these kids from hanging out, but it's also getting a lot of kids who aren't gang members in trouble,'' Melena said. ``It gives the police the green light to stop whoever they want.