Police chief blames gang war for slaying, rash of shootings

On June 15, there were five police reports regarding gunshots.
By PEGGY SINKOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
WARREN -- A turf battle between rival gangs is being blamed for the city's latest homicide.
Police Chief John Mandopoulos said he believes Friday's homicide and the numerous shootings that have plagued the city the past few weeks are the result of fighting by gangs.
Delone D. Joyce, 18, was gunned down around 8:30 p.m. Friday as he was playing football in the front yard of 2709 Wick St. S.E.
"One minute he is throwing the football, and the next he is dead," the chief said. "A car pulled up and opened fire."
He noted that Joyce died of multiple gunshot wounds. No suspects have been arrested.
"There is a fight going on for Warren. This is a turf battle," said Mandopoulos. "All these gunbattles and this shooting death is due to the turf war."
The chief declined to identify which gangs he believes may be responsible.
He predicted it
Mandopoulos added that he had predicted a year ago that "this would happen -- and it did."
"I knew the street gangs from Youngstown and Cleveland would know that we are being scrutinized by the press. Because of that, we had to change our complete way of doing things," the chief said. "Some of these gang members have relocated to here from Detroit or New York. We as a city have to pull together to fight this."
The chief declined to elaborate on his comment or on how the department's new policy on strip-searches would cause more shootings. The new policy requires, among other things, that a doctor is present for body-cavity searches and that a form is filled out anytime a strip-search is performed.
Since last summer the police department has been under fire by minority groups because of allegations of illegal strip-searches and excessive force. Numerous people have filed lawsuits stating they were illegally searched. So far, the city has settled four lawsuits.
"We need to quit blaming the police department and pull together," the chief said. "Where are the council people, where is Tom Conley, the president of the Urban League, when these shootings take place? Why aren't they here with me? Why weren't they here looking in the eyes of the victim's 8-year-old brother?"
Increase in calls
Shooting calls have nearly doubled since this time last year.
Last month the city received 60 calls about shots being fired, compared with 36 such calls in June 2003, according to police Capt. Tim Bowers.
"These random shootings throughout the city have me very, very concerned," said Doug Franklin, the city's safety-service director.
"Every day I have people calling me, stopping me on the street to tell me about these shootings. It's a serious problem," he added. "Elderly people say they feel they are locked up in their house. People are reluctant to come outside and enjoy the summer weather because of the shootings."
Meetings with police, city officials and residents will be set up so a plan can be formed to help reduce the shootings, Franklin said.
"We need to get more information; we need to get more eyewitnesses so that we can help stop this," Franklin said. "We really need to get to the bottom of this quickly."
Pugh said he doesn't believe the police officers are doing enough to stop the violence.
"All they complain about is not having enough manpower, or the media," Pugh said. "Get out there and do something. They tell me they have some 40 houses under surveillance. How many buys do you have to make before you bust the house?"
Where it's happening
City police reports show the majority of the shootings occurred on the city's southeast and northwest sides.
On June 15, there were five reports regarding gunshots. Four calls were about shots fired at homes on the southeast side, and one driver's car was struck on Youngstown Road near Hazelwood S.E.
Most of the shooting reports are taking place from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m. However, a Landsdowne Avenue N.W. man told police that he was shot in the foot around 5:30 p.m. June 9.
sinkovich@vindy.com