Operation Redemption Impact Examined

Operation Redemption was carried out Thursday morning in the unicorporated areas of the Coachella and Morongo Valleys, including Banning and Desert Hot Springs.

16 people were arrested, but how many of them are behind bars is unclear.

The Riverside County District Attorney’s Office referred all comments on the operation to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Department.

On Friday, News Channel 3 made contact with the Sheriff’s Department, but KESQ was provided very little additional information.

The day after Operation Redemption was carried out, Desert Hot Springs police and K-9 units were still driving up and down the streets on the lookout for suspicious activity.

But despite the arrests, neighbors were still cautious.

“I just tell my boys,” said Ana Lisa, a longtime Desert Hot Springs resident, “just lock the doors and don’t go out, and if you see strangers, just always stay inside the house.”

Authorities said planning for Operation Redemption began five weeks ago, after First Community Baptist Church was vandalized and a gang member was shot outside.

In total, 16 people were arrested on six felonies and 10 misdemeanors.

But at this time, authorities said they cannot release the true cost of the operation.

“We don’t really need that,” said Marcos Aquino, who has lived in Desert Hot Springs for less than a year. “I think maybe (it was) not a waste of money, but it wouldn’t help the community that much.”

Officers also conducted approximately 50 parole and probation compliance checks.

Aquino has lived in Desert Hot Springs for about five months, while Lisa has lived there for 10 years.

But Gabriela Gonzalez has spent more than quarter century in the area, and she now has two young children.

“It used to be worse before, so now I think it’s better,” said Gonzalez.

In 2009, more than 100 Desert Hot Springs suspected gang members were swept off the streets during Operation Falling Sun, which was considered a success.

But last year, the district attorney’s office caught some heat, because it did not track the arrests made in and around the city of Indio during Operation Eastern Encore.

One-hundred sixty-eight people were arrested, but it’s unclear where many of them are now.

Still, Desert Hot Springs residents support law enforcement, because crime has not disappeared.

“You see people want to act all, this and this — want to start fights and stuff like that,” said Aquino. “I see it common around here.”

The Sheriff’s Department said it could not confirm how many of the people arrested on Thursday were still in jail on Friday or how many have been released.