Ex-parks superintendent crowned anti-gang czar

Steve Swaim, Anaheim s new anti-gang and drug czar, on Monday began helping residents cope with gang influences and drug sales that have flooded the streets of several neighborhoods. Swaim, a former Parks, Recreation and Community Services Department superintendent, was appointed to the post shortly after religious leaders from the Orange County Congregation Community Organization packed City Council meetings with hundreds of their followers. Religious and community leaders are calling for the city to fund a recently adopted policy designed by a citizen s advisory committee called the Gang-Drug Task Force. Swaim s task is to coordinate volunteer and government organizations to better utilize programs that are available but underused. As far as we can determine, this is the first position of its type in Southern California, City Manager Jim Ruth said. At the new post, Swaim will take an office within the city s top administration and have the clout of the city eph Molloy said. Swaim s first mission will be to create a directory of services already available to residents and then work to expand those program s, according to the task force strategy. City officials have committed nearly $18 million for the effort and will raise an estimated $1.4 million from a recent increase in hotel bed taxes and forfeitures from drug busts. Swain has a tough road ahead, with citizens clamoring for an additional $4.4 million needed to complete the task force strategy. By concentrating our energies on existing program s ... we will make sizable inroads in dealing with the gang and drug problems that have taken root in Anaheim,