Stockton police tackle downtown crime | Crime

STOCKTON, CA - Stockton police officers, able to work crime issues other than shootings and homicides, concentrated on downtown drug and alcohol use Wednesday.

Officers said they were focusing on the streets surrounding the transit center because of so many complaints from nearby business owners.

"Kids loitering, drinking, smoking marijuana in front of businesses, blocking entrances," were some of the issues listed by officer Greg Gall.

He said the department can concentrate on these types of problems since the city has experienced so few shootings so far in 2013.

"That took a lot of resources. Anytime there's a shooting, the streets are blocked, officers are canvassing for witnesses," Gall said. "This frees up officers to address littler crimes that affect downtown businesses."

Several people were cited for drug and alcohol use.

By Tim Daly, tdaly@news10.net