Religious leader reacts to recent raid in Coachella

“Operation Safe Coachella” was viewed as a huge success, as federal, state, and local law enforcement arrested 15 individuals, 10 of which were active gang members, and seized firearms, ammo, and cash in a raid stretching from Coachella, to Indio, as well as Desert Hot Springs.

But as quickly as the authorities swooped in, just as quick at least six of those arrested individuals have posted bail and are back on the streets.

But at least one religious leader in the Coachella area is keeping the faith. “At least several are still incarcerated, several will be arrested, probably brought to the term of a trial and hopefully sentencing,” said Reverend Guy Wilson. “So that is a victory, a very large victory.”

Reverend Wilson is the pastor at Our Lady of Soledad in Coachella and was part of a city meeting two weeks ago with community leaders striving for change when it came to crime in the community.

“Yeah, the arrest of 15 is a beginning because we know that might be the tip of the iceberg.” said Wilson. He added, “all the churches in Coachella, they have an important role to play and that’s because this is a sanctuary.”

But one big bust isn’t going to fix the underlying problem. Four of the 15 arrested were 22 years or younger, making leaders look at the crime problem more comprehensively.

Coachella Mayor Steve Hernandez said the school system and a larger trust in the community are key cogs to keeping kids getting involved in the wrong things. Hernandez also said he wants to implement an open community meeting, something outside where it can grow organically, and still open the discussion for issues the community can take on.

“Right now is the time to take a stand,” added Wilson. “And it’s not just to say no to gang or no to drugs or no to violence. It’s to say yes to our community. We outnumber completely any criminal element or any violent element and we have to understand that and stand together with that.”