Ask a figure from the local government or law enforcement about gang activity, and in most towns, you’ll get the response “We don’t have a gang problem around here,” even if evidence suggests otherwise.  That’s understandable – nobody wants to live in fear, after all -  but the first and most important step to dealing with a problem is to acknowledge that it exists.  To help with this first step, take a look at the list below and see how many of these warning signs could be applied to your town.

1. The presence of graffiti.  This especially includes graffiti near schools or other youth centers, and graffiti where certain letters or entire tags have been crossed out (a sign of gang rivalry, which could lead to violence).

2.  Increased truancy in local high and middle schools.  If local youth are skipping school, it’s very possible that they’re involved in juvenile delinquency, including gang activity.  At the very least, they’re at risk for gang recruitment.

3.  Social groups with themed clothing, colors, or hand signs.  You have to be careful with this one, because sometimes a social club is just a social club (maybe a group dresses in burgundy and gold because they like the Washington Redskins, for example).  Look for solid colors rather than combinations, asymmetry or off-centeredness (such as a baseball cap turned to the left or right, or a belt with its buckle closer to one hip) and especially for bandannas, or do-rags, worn over the head or in the back pocket.  Hand signs should also be investigated to determine their meaning.

4.  Drive-by shootings.  Unlike robberies or drug sales, drive-bys are almost exclusively performed by gang members.  If someone in your community has been the victim of a drive-by shooting, they or someone with them may have been targeted by a gang.

5.  An escalation of drug sales.  Many gangs have their members sell drugs in order to raise money.  Even if they don’t, however, they may step in and regulate local drug dealers, demanding a cut of their profits in exchange for protection.

6.  Increased incidents of fighting in schools.  Because gangs encourage their members to disrespect and challenge members of rival gangs, physical fights are common in a mixed environment such as a school.

Think about how many of the above apply to your community, and if it’s more than half (especially if drive-bys are involved) you might want to consider taking some anti-gang initiatives.  I recommend the Bureau of Justice Assistance and the Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention’s National Gang Center website at http://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/ , which has a range of useful law enforcement resources for dealing with gangs.

By: Steven Doty

The FBI’s latest report on murder and assault of law enforcement officers shows that in 2009, forty-eight officers were feloniously killed in the line of duty (up from forty-one in 2008).  The statistics highlight one of the most pressing law enforcement needs of our time: now, more than ever, the importance of high-quality tactical training for police officers is critical.

For example, of the forty-eight officers who were killed in 2009, twenty-eight were killed during an arrest, an ambush, a hostage situation, a barricaded suspect, or a similar tactical situation, and all but three were killed with firearms.  Two were killed with their own weapons, and nineteen were shot and killed while standing five feet or less from the suspect who attacked them.  Twenty-one officers attempted to use their weapons, but only twelve were successful.

It’s clear that police officers in today’s world face more risks when dealing with suspects than ever before.  It isn’t particularly difficult for a determined criminal to get his hands on the kind of weaponry that he shouldn’t have, and hard drugs like PCP can make a suspect erratic and unreasonable when approached by an officer.  Combine those two factors and you’ve got a suspect who’s not only difficult to reason with, but who can be very dangerous in the wrong situation.  Another concern in this day and age is the possibility of terrorism, which often involves unconventional and dangerous means of attack.  (This is particularly true since the recent death of Osama bin Laden; the Department of Homeland Security’s National Terrorism Advisory System has called for a heightened threat level.) Counterterrorism units have to be prepared to deal with close-quarter urban scenarios that may arise unexpectedly, featuring well-armed and fanatical enemies.

Because of these factors, quality training for weapon use and tactical encounters is a must-have for law enforcement in our day.  Any step that can be taken to minimize combat risks is a step that should be taken.  Hopefully, the 2011 statistics will reflect this – any year when police casualties drop is a good year.

By: Steven Doty