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LASD survey identifies Quartz Hill residents’ greatest concerns

by Jim E. Winburn • April 10, 2015

LASD Captain Patrick Nelson of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station and members from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Bureau inform local residents on the results of the Quartz Hill Community Survey from March 14. (photo by Jim E. Winburn)
LASD Captain Patrick Nelson of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station and members from the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Bureau inform local residents on the results of the Quartz Hill Community Survey from March 14. (photo by Jim E. Winburn)

QUARTZ HILL – Los Angeles County Sheriff’s officials revealed the results of a recent community survey for Quartz Hill residents at the George Lane Community Center Thursday.

Captain Pat Nelson of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station told about 20 people gathered at the public meeting that 43.7 percent of the residents and businesses surveyed in West Lancaster were most concerned about thefts. The second most area of concern was narcotics at 29.8 percent, followed by vandalism at 17.6 percent, gangs at 4.7 percent and violent crimes at 4.1 percent.

“We actually checked on about 1,000 homes and businesses in West Lancaster,” Captain Nelson said, noting that the Sheriff’s Department Public Trust Partnership program had received more than 400 responses from the March 14 community survey.

The Lancaster Sheriff’s Station Quartz Hill Community Survey was conducted by about 100 deputies and law enforcement volunteers. They focused on the neighborhoods between 40th Street West and 52nd Street West, bordered by Avenue L to the north, and Avenue M to the south.

Seeking to identify policing issues important to residents, the survey is the fourth conducted throughout the county. The program, which rotates through specific communities throughout Los Angeles County, uses the survey results to concentrate patrol resources on local crime concerns, while increasing community relations with local law enforcement.

The survey also revealed that 38 percent of residents believe they are “somewhat safe” after dark, compared to 27 percent who said they felt “safe” and 21 percent who admitted to being “extremely safe” after dark.

The numbers for community nuisances showed that “traffic,” at 54.2 percent, was a top concern for residents. The transient problem was the second-most concern at 23.1 percent, followed by “loud parties” at 12.6 percent, rundown buildings at 5.2 percent, and “junk yards/cars” at 4.9 percent.

Captain Nelson said that personnel resources from the Sheriff’s department will be allocated and redirected to address the issues of concern identified through the survey.

“The purpose of this is to utilize resources from the Special Operations Bureau, Reserve Forces Bureau, and our Community Law Enforcement Partnership basically to be more responsive to issues residents experience,” he said.

More specifically, the Quartz Hill survey area (and surrounding areas) will receive an intervention period that includes 90-120 days of enforcement missions, constant analysis of enforcement efforts for this duration, as well as ongoing “sustainability and maintenance of the area,” according to Sheriff’s officials.

Local residents from Quartz Hill discuss the results of a March 14 Community Oritented Policing Survey with LASD Captain Patrick Nelson of the Lancaster Sheriff's Station. (photo by Jim E. Winburn)
Local residents from Quartz Hill discuss the results of a March 14 Community Oritented Policing Survey with LASD Captain Patrick Nelson of the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station. (photo by Jim E. Winburn)

“It’s probably a misnomer to say that it is just Quartz Hill, and the reason for that is if we find there’s a nexus between West Lancaster and East Lancaster, should we find, let’s say, a team of burglars working the surrounding areas, then we’re going to go find them regardless (of the survey area),” Captain Nelson told members of the community.

One concerned resident at the meeting asked the captain how exactly the temporary enforcement teams would help address the local issues highlighted by the survey.

“What you have to look forward to is anywhere between 90 and 120 days of extra patrols and extra personnel that will be up here working on the actions plans that were developed from the surveys,” he said. “Once the Special Operations Bureau people move on to the next target area (in Los Angeles County), the ability to maintain the gains that we experience will be the responsibility of the local patrol deputies that are assigned here already – as well as some of the personnel from the Special Operations Bureau.”

He pointed out that enforcement teams and patrol deputies encourage community engagement through Neighborhood Watch groups, information sharing, and active participation in general from all stakeholders.

“Clearly we can’t do this on our own,” he said. “What is really needed is community engagement if we are going to be successful.”

Captain Nelson also told members of the community that Lancaster deputies in the last year have made about 9,000 observations in Quartz Hill, meaning either patrol-related contacts or traffic stops. In addition, about 260 arrests were made in the last year “for a variety of offenses.” In terms of violent crimes, there have been no homicides in Quartz Hill in the last year, and violent assaults “comparably appear to be fairly low,” Captain Nelson said.

“The (March 14) survey results aren’t really a surprise to me, because we look through our current crime stats regularly, and I would have expected ‘thefts’ to be the number one issue here,” he said.

Captain Nelson also said that part of the criteria determined for the Lancaster Sheriff’s Station most recent community survey was that it take place in an unincorporated area. He said that Lancaster will receive its next rotation for an LASD community survey in about one year, and he plans to host the targeted area in East Lancaster.

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About the author

Jim E. Winburn is freelance reporter covering news of public interest.
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Filed Under: Lancaster

12 comments for "LASD survey identifies Quartz Hill residents’ greatest concerns"

  1. Curious says

    April 11, 2015 at 6:53 am

    My husband and I live in QH we didn’t even know about any survey and specially the meeting that they had Thursday. I know we would have attend the meeting too.

  2. whiteboi says

    April 10, 2015 at 7:44 pm

    The information that was gather by local police officals were very bias. Quartz hills is a Simi gated community west of Lancaster. The majority of the residence from this area are wealthy and with houses that are surrounded by a lot of land. Theft or other crimes in this particular is not of a great concern as it is in the much larger neighboring cities in the A.V where the crime varies from murder to petty theft.

    • Nancy P says

      April 10, 2015 at 8:18 pm

      Why do so many people think Quartz Hill is such a wealthy area? I see run down houses, stray dogs, broken fences, and dirt roads. Only a few nice neighborhoods. I don’t mean to say something negative about neighborhoods that so many love, but for people to talk like it’s a different world, doesn’t make sense.

      • HighDesertDiva says

        April 11, 2015 at 10:08 am

        There are very few gated communities within Quartz Hill boundaries. The area between Avenue L and Avenue N between 40th West and 52nd West is a mix of homes built between the 1950’s and early 2000’s. Yes, there are some larger lots and horse property, but it’s not true high-end equestrian property. The only portion of that area that really fits that description would be a small cluster of homes that sit off of Avenue N. Also in this area are quite a few older apartments in need of repair, that are plagued with domestic abuse and drug related crimes. It’s actually a great area to take opinions from, as it’s residents are from a broad range of socioeconomic status.

  3. FTAV says

    April 10, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    My greatest concern, if I still lived in the Antelope Valley, would be that I’d never have the opportunity to get the f!!ck out of the Antelope Valley and I would spend the rest of my life in that wretched hellhole.

  4. LOL says

    April 10, 2015 at 3:21 pm

    OMG- too funny, is any other area of the AV getting surveyed? I bet not, double standard at it’s best!! Güeros chillones!!!

  5. Lancaster commuter says

    April 10, 2015 at 11:21 am

    The survey also did not reveal 95% of Lancaster was not surveyed. However it did reveal that 95% of Lancaster believe this survey was very bias.

    • Lancastarian says

      April 10, 2015 at 2:02 pm

      At least the survey wasn’t conducted by two local “pastors” containing slanted questions to make a certain city council candidate look bad…and then used by our mayor in his various hit mailers including one which called an African American candidate a “gang” candidate.

    • QH says

      April 20, 2015 at 8:34 pm

      I thought this was a survey of Quartz Hill

  6. john howard says

    April 10, 2015 at 11:02 am

    The survey also revealed that 38 percent of residents believed they are “somewhat safe” after dark, compared to 27 percent who said they felt “safe” and 21 percent who admitted to being “extremely safe” after dark.

    Translation :
    38% of QH residents own a dog.
    27% of QH residents own a gun.
    21% of QH residents own a gun and large dog.

  7. palmdaleguy says

    April 10, 2015 at 10:34 am

    KOOL! Protect the people with money. How about starting from the inside out!!

    • HighDesertDiva says

      April 11, 2015 at 10:15 am

      That area includes both extremes – wealth and poverty. Quite a few older apartment buildings filled with residents who are struggling and living on subsidy, plus those who have more wealth. It’s actually a diverse section of QH.

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