IMAGE PITCH MADE BY EAST P.A. CHIEF

Top cop describes focus on crime `hot spots'

East Palo Alto Police Chief Wesley Bowling made an effort Friday to improve
his department's image as it engages in a war of words with the San Mateo
County sheriff, who wants to take it over.

Bowling spread out drugs and guns he said were collected during the
department's Operation Hot Spot to show that his department is taking
action as the city's crime soars.

``We are not interested in the hype, the press. The sheriff is giving the
impression that we aren't doing anything. I have to give the impression
that we are doing our job,'' said Bowling. ``Too much was being said about
what the department isn't doing.''

Bowling said Sheriff Don Horsley is too eager to sign a contract with the
city to provide police services. But Horsley said he's worried about the
safety of the residents, not his contract.

``I've never held a press conference to knock East Palo Alto. They sure
knock me. What I'm interested in is a solution. The department is
inexperienced, understaffed and poorly prioritized,'' Horsley said. ``This
competitive stuff is not helping the citizens. We need to think about them
first.''

Repeating part of the presentation he made to the city council Thursday
night, Bowling said the city has targeted 18 ``hot spots,'' where crime is
high and will conduct regular sweeps in those areas. With help from the
county probation and parole departments, the city will also make weekly
checks of parolees who may be in violation of terms of their release.

Bowling spread out on a table 2.6 pounds of cocaine, three pounds of
heroin, 1.5 pounds of crack and 2.5 ounces of methamphetamine, as well as a
12-gauge double-barreled shotgun, a 9mm handgun and a .25-caliber handgun.

Bowling said he believes he has full support from the city council to
continue policing the city. But he said the council probably will make
further judgments after hiring a consultant to conduct a needs assessment.

In a related development, the U.S. Justice Department, which has granted
East Palo Alto $1 million for 14 officers, will require the city to match
only 10 percent of the grant. The federal agency initially wanted the city
to match 25 percent of the grant, which the city was unable to pay.

City Manager Jerry Groomes said he did not have all the details about the
Justice Department decision but told the council Thursday night: ``It looks
like it's good news.''