RIVERBANK, CA - After an alarming rise in gang-related drive-by shootings, the Riverbank police chief says he's researching the idea of getting a gang injunction for his city.
"It's a great tool," Chief Bill Pooley said.
Injunctions can be ordered by judges who believe a neighborhoods gang situation is serious.
The injunction can make it illegal for gang members to display known gang behavior. It can also prohibit gang members from even associating with each other.
Riverbank has experienced 23 gang-related shootings this year. That compares to nine shootings last year, and just four the year before that.
Injunctions are far more common in larger cities like Modesto and Oakland.
Pooley said Modesto has experienced success and he'd be interested in a similar anti-gang technique for Riverbank.
