Local elected officials and law enforcement leaders spoke Friday against three pieces of legislation they blame for the increases in both property and violent crime in El Monte and cities around the state for the past three years.

The city hosted a forum on a trio of recent prison reform laws — AB 109, Prop. 47 and Prop. 57 — at the Grace T. Black Auditorium Friday morning.

El Monte councilman Juventino “J” Gomez speaks during a community forum on three pieces of legislation: AB 109, Prop 47 and Prop. 57 at the Grace T. Black Auditorium in El Monte, Calif. October 6, 2017. Many in law enforcement and government blame the rise in property and violent crime in the past four years on the recent legislation. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb, SGV Tribune/ SCNG)

The city of El Monte hosts a community forum on three pieces of legislation: AB 109, Prop 47 and Prop. 57 at the Grace T. Black Auditorium October 6, 2017. Many in law enforcement and government blame the rise in property and violent crime in the past four years on the recent legislation. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb, SGV Tribune/ SCNG)

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The city of El Monte hosts a community forum on three pieces of legislation: AB 109, Prop 47 and Prop. 57 at the Grace T. Black Auditorium October 6, 2017. Many in law enforcement and government blame the rise in property and violent crime in the past four years on the recent legislation. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb, SGV Tribune/ SCNG)

El Monte Police Chief David Reynoso attends a community forum on three pieces of legislation: AB 109, Prop 47 and Prop. 57 at the Grace T. Black Auditorium in El Monte, Calif. October 6, 2017. Many in law enforcement and government blame the rise in property and violent crime in the past four years on the recent legislation. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb, SGV Tribune/ SCNG)

El Monte Police Chief David Reynoso speaks during a community forum on three pieces of legislation: AB 109, Prop 47 and Prop. 57 at the Grace T. Black Auditorium in El Monte, Calif. October 6, 2017. Many in law enforcement and government blame the rise in property and violent crime in the past four years on the recent legislation. (Photo by Leo Jarzomb, SGV Tribune/ SCNG)



City Councilman J. Gomez brought chiefs from the city’s police department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Deparment, to speak about the ways in which the three pieces of legislation have, respectively, put the burden of housing state prisoners on county jails.

Gomez and the law enforcement officials suggested the laws have allowed the early releases of people who have since taken up petty crime that, if caught, they are hardly punished for.

Gomez said the suggested the city host the forum in order to both let residents know they need to better protect themselves from crime and to inspire them to push their state-level elected officials to take action to either amend or repeal the legislation.

“With this information, people can get together to approach this legislation and get it amended to help all the local municipalities suffering,” Gomez said.

El Monte Police Chief David Reynoso shared crime data El Monte police had gathered from January 2015 to December 2016. During that period, the city saw a 45 percent increase in burglaries, 16 percent increase in robberies and 13 percent increase in violent crime.

He said that the major problem was that for most narcotics and burglary under $950 stolen, the department could only jail offenders for 10 days, at which point the thief would be free to steal again.

“We have a staggering number of repeat offenders,” Reynoso said. “We’ve arrested one person 12 times.”

Michelle Hanisee of the L.A. County District Attorney’s office offered the example of Whittier Police Department Officer Keith Boyer, who was shot and killed Feb. 20 allegedly by known gang member Michael Mejia, who was free as a result of AB 109 despite the fact that he had served five 10-day “flash holds.”

“Under the previous probation system, Mejia would have been imprisoned for up to a year, not on the streets free to kill Officer Boyer,” Hanisee said.

After the forum finished, Tiffany Johnson, associate director of the New Way of Life Reentry Project, said she was disappointed that Friday’s event was more of an information session than a forum at which attendees could speak. She disagreed with several claims made against the three pieces of legislation and said she thought the presenters did not materially prove the legislation led to the increases in crime.

“If you’re going to have a forum, let us respond,” Johnson said. “Don’t just preach at me.”

Pasadena Police Department Chief Phillip Sanchez was among the attendees and said forums like Friday’s are important to educate San Gabriel Valley community members about the legislation and to get them thinking about potential solutions.

“We just need to tell the whole story and let the voters decide whether the current laws are working or if they need to be amended,” Sanchez said.