Oregon Public Broadcasting

Portland Police announced the end of Operation Cool Down Monday.  The month-long enforcement effort was aimed at stopping gang violence. Kristian Foden-Vencil reports.

Operation Cool Down started in January - after more than a dozen gang shootings and three deaths.

During the operation 62 arrests were made; 14 handguns were seized along with cocaine, methamphetamines and marijuana.

Police spokeswoman, Mary Wheat, concedes gang shootings continue. But she says, Operation Cool Down was a short-term fix.

For longer-term efforts, two new detectives and a sergeant have been assigned to the Gang Enforcement Team.

Mary Wheat: “This is something that will continue. There’s no date on when this will end.  It’s now going to be part of how we do business.”

But, Wheat says, gang activity is more than just a law enforcement problem. She hopes the community, faith leaders and local businesses can continue reaching out to kids drawn to gangs.