RENEWED FUNDS MAY SAVE GANG UNIT.

Byline: Greg Botonis Staff Writer

LANCASTER - After months of worry, Antelope Valley Gang Violence Suppression team members have a renewed hope that they won't be disbanded because of a lack of funding.

State officials have decided to continue the anti-crime grant program that has funded the team for three years, although the local team still must be selected for continued funding.

``We have a good chance because our current efforts have been successful,'' said Lt. Steve Fredericks.

The GVS team was created three years ago by a grant, which provided about $300,000 a year, from the California Governor's Office of Criminal Justice Planning to fight gang violence.

The team consists of four Sheriff's Department investigators, two nighttime investigators, a deputy probation officer, a sergeant and a deputy district attorney.

More than 90 percent of the 1,000 people arrested in the first two years of operation were convicted. By the middle of 2000, the team had handled more than 700 cases, served more than 40 search warrants, conducted 80 probation and parole sweeps, and conducted nearly 700 probation and parole searches.

The team's funding expires on June 31. It is asking for $500,000 to be available July 1.

The city of Lancaster has offered $50,000, or 10 percent of the grant. Although the state does not require matching funds from local government, city officials said they hope to sway the decision for the grant by showing their support.

``We really can't afford to lose the program,'' said Assistant City Manager Dennis Davenport. ``The success of the program has been phenomenal. It has certainly done more than we ever expected.''

Fredericks said he hopes to know whether the team has been approved for the new grant by the end of May or early part of June.

The grant also offers funding for anti-gang programs offered by the United Community Action Network, schools and the cities of Lancaster and Palmdale.