Successful Practices & Strategies Vol. 3 | No. 6

Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department 

Sacramento, California 

https://www.sacsheriff.com 

Community policing element 

Community partnerships 

Problem/issue 

Gangs 

Problem description 

Gangs in the Sacramento region operated out of budget motels to avoid detection by law enforcement 

and continue illegal activities. The identified gang members were all wanted in connection with rival 

gang shootings within the region. 

Community policing strategies implemented 

The primary strategies used by gang detectives included engaging the community in the development of 

responses to community problems, collaboration with other agencies that deliver public services, and 

developing systems to capture and track problem solving and partnership efforts. 

Change and/or impact as a result of these community policing efforts 

In May 2014, the Sacramento County Sheriff’s Department Gang Suppression Unit and Sacramento 

Police Department South Gang Enforcement Team (GET) received information that three gang members 

were staying at a budget hotel. 

Using the information contained in Disorder at Budget Motels,

1

 the Intelligence Operations Group (IOG) 

conducted a substantial amount of research. By applying structured analytical techniques to the 

location, the IOG identified that the calls for service at that location typically involved a greater number 

of narcotics, prostitution, and gang-type calls. In addition, the calls for service (CFS):room ratio was 

higher than other similar-sized locations. 

1

 Karin Schmerler, Disorder at Budget Motels, Problem-Oriented Guides for Police: Problem-Specific Guides Series 

no. 30 (Washington, DC: Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, 2005), http://ric-zaiinc.com/Publications/cops-p068-pub.pdf. 
Gang detectives focused their effort around the location and sought information from reputable area 

businesses. The detectives provided information to the IOG that determined the uptick in motel issues 

occurred around the same time as a new manager began working at the location. Based on all of the 

available information, the detectives proactively sought contacts who were capable of alerting law 

enforcement about motel happenings. These sources advised detectives that three gang members, all of 

whom were being sought for a recent gang shooting, were possibly hiding at the location. Thanks to the 

resources available from the grant, detectives immediately began surveillance at the location. 

After a short period of surveillance, detectives identified the three subjects in the parking lot of the 

motel. Detectives called for additional resources and moved in to make an arrest. As detectives exited 

their vehicles to contact two of the subjects, one attempted to discard a backpack containing a stolen 

loaded .40-caliber handgun and a 30-round Glock magazine. A lawful probation search of the subject's 

phone revealed pictures of the two persons prohibited from possession firearms. Detectives validated 

another subject as a gang member and questioned him regarding the recent shootings. Detectives 

arrested all three subjects on multiple charges. 

Lessons learned through program implementation 

One of the most effective strategies used during the current grant is the combination of resources. After 

the initial success at this motel operation, the department introduced several other components of the 

publication to help identify the top problem budget locations based on these components. These 

components included the following: 

 What percentage of the guests at individual motels live within 30 miles of the motel?2

 What are the probation/parole rates of guests at problem motels compared with those of guests at

motels with low CFS:room ratios and those of the general population?3

Through these data points and several other tools, we hope to have consistent measuring of successful 

responses related to budget hotels and gang activity. Hopefully, further research and response will 

produce a consistent model that reduces homicides and gang activity while improving the quality of life 

for other area residents. 

The opinions contained herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the 

U.S. Department of Justice. References to specific agencies, companies, products, or services should not be considered an 

endorsement by the author(s) or the U.S. Department of Justice. Rather, the references are illustrations to supplement 

discussion of the issues. 

The Internet references cited in this document were valid as of the date of publication. Given that URLs and websites are in 

constant flux, neither the author(s) nor the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services can vouch for their current validity. 

Published 2016

2

 Ibid., 16. 

3

 Ibid., 15.