A Lesson at Boys State

Leifel Jackson and Steve Nawojczyk at Boys State--

Coroner, former gang leader tell Boys State of harsh street war realities
By KODY FORD
Log Cabin Staff Writer
June 3, 2004




Ten years ago, an HBO documentary, "Gang War: Bangin' in Little Rock," prominently featured two central Arkansans - then Pulaski County coroner Steve Nawojczyk and a Crip gangleader named Leifel Jackson.
A decade later, the two men stood on the same stage in Main Hall at the University of Central Arkansas speaking to Boys State delegates about the dangers of gangs and the gang culture.
Nawojczyk served as Pulaski county coroner from 1983 to 1994. He became famous on the streets and on television because of his desire to stop the deaths surrounding gang violence; he used photographs of slain members and bystanders.
Nawojczyk said at first it was hard infiltrating street culture, but the photographs, which gang members often called Nawojczyk's "ghetto pass," allowed the coroner to move unharmed in and out of gang territory.
But not after having a hit put on him by a prominent Crip/drug dealer. The hit was later repealed.
From 1992 to 1993, Little Rock had a higher per-capita murder rate than Los Angeles and New York. In 1988, the Centers for Disease Control sent Nawojczyk a directive saying to report all deaths of African-American males under age 19, because the homicides among this demographic were being considered an epidemic.
He stressed that often victims of gang violence are not gang members but are bystanders.
Nawojczyk says, "Bullets don't have names on them."
This year, according to Nawojczyk, 10,000 people will die from gunshot wounds and 400 of those will be under 18.
Throughout his time reaching out to inner-city youth, Nawojczyk said the gang members and at-risk youth belonged to the "Five-H Club," meaning they were "hopeless, homeless, helpless, hungry and hugless."
Nawojczyk, who currently serves as Director for Juvenile Services for North Little Rock, says the key to stopping violence is simple.
"These kids join gangs because they want identification, recognition, belonging, discipline, love and respect," said Nawojczyk. "Every community must offer this to children."
After he finished, Nawojczyk brought Jackson to the stage. The former gangleader made a confession.
"A long time ago, I put a hit on Steve and if it had gone through, I wouldn't be standing here today," said Jackson.
Jackson thought Nawojczyk was an undercover narcotics officer out to infiltrate Jackson's drug ring. Eventually, Jackson realized why Nawojczyk was visiting his neighborhood.
Jackson, who spent eight-and-a-half years in prison before being released about two years ago, had a thriving drug ring in the Little Rock area. At its peak, Jackson says he was making around $80,000 a day. Shortly before he was arraigned, Jackson's home burned along with the $1 million in cash he kept inside.
"I always cared about the community," said Jackson. "I'd take kids to skate every few weeks, buy them shoes or food if they needed it. I thought selling dope helped the community.
"But how do you justify people dying by taking kids skating and buying them shoes? You can't."
At age 12, Jackson began smoking marijuana and by 14 he was mainlining hard drugs including cocaine. He said he fell prey to two myths growing up.
"I heard two lies growing up," said Jackson. "My mother always said 'Go to school and everything will be all right.' I went but I never paid attention. Also everyone said you could just smoke a little marijuana and everything would be okay because it wasn't addictive. Marijuana is a gateway drug."
Today, Jackson has turned his life around. He works as a mentor and tutor at the Sherman Park Our Club in North Little Rock. Jackson feels Our Club is a better way to serve his community.
Recently, Jackson finished filming a sequel to Gang Wars. In the film, Jackson visits with gang members from the original film as they speak out about how gang membership destroyed their lives.
The Boys State delegates seemed very moved by the speakers.
"Leifel made me realize that we have major crime problems here in Arkansas, not just in Los Angeles or New York City," said John Sims, a student at Conway Christian High School.
"His complete turnaround is remarkable since he was in the middle of the gang culture."