Police Denial Usually Equals Disaster
Why do the police in many communities continue to deny the existence of "gangs"? Many times they quibble over the meaning of the word "gang" and won't recognize "posses, cliques and crews" as a gang. A duck is a freakin' duck folks. Denial by officials is a dangerous thing as it tends to make a community rest on its laurels. This news story is from Laurel, Maryland, near Baltimore. School and interventionists/preventionists are generally more forthcoming about gang issues. Steve
Gangs in Laurel? Officials at crime forum disagree
08/18/05
by Gwendolyn Glenn
While Laurel police officials continue to insist there are no legitimate gangs operating in the city, a Laurel High School official disputed that assertion at a local crime forum Friday.
During a packed meeting at The Tabernacle Church, attended by the mayor, police chief and other area officials and social agency heads, Laurel High School Assistant Principal Randolph Perry shocked some when he spoke of a gang problem in the city.
"MS-13 (a national Latino gang) is real and they're here in Laurel, and we're tearing the graffiti down every day at Laurel High," Perry said. "They're here, chief. ... Not here like they want to be, but they're here.
"We're seeing the beginning of recruitment efforts. They have tried to access our campus, but we do a great job of keeping them out."
Although police officials have acknowledged that bona fide gangs such as MS-13 are operating in nearby Calverton and Beltsville, Laurel police have contended they have no hard evidence the gangs have infiltrated the city.
"I disagree that there's a gang problem at Laurel High School," police Chief David Moore said in an interview this week. "I've talked to the head of security (at Laurel High), and we work closely with her and she disagrees with that comment. I think the world of Dr. Perry, but I was very surprised by his comments."
According to Moore, whenever there are reports of gang-related graffiti on buildings, his officers photograph the markings and study them to determine if they are authentic. He said their investigations have only turned up gang copycats.
"The symbols that gangs use are very specific and they understand their language, as do our officers," Moore said. "But what we've found is kids mimicking gangs with graffiti art, and not hard-core gangs.
"This is not to say that it couldn't grow into a problem, especially as more kids from outside move to Laurel, so I am concerned," Moore said.
Laurel High Principal Theo Cramer, who also attended the crime forum, said that while the school has had markings resembling those of organized gangs scrawled on it, he doubts there are legitimate gangs at the school.
According to Cramer, the graffiti Perry referred to is not a daily occurence, but usually shows up at the end of a weekend on buildings in the back of the school.
"It is a concern because we don't want to see any" graffiti, Cramer said. "It has been confirmed by county school system security and the (Laurel) Police Department that it looks like authentic gang graffiti. ...We don't follow up on it but the police may look at it with their experts and determine if it is."
When asked why school officials do not track these incidents, Cramer said, "We have had racist remarks on buildings and we don't follow up and inquire if we have the (Ku Klux) Klan in the area."
Tabernacle's pastor, Bishop Randolph Gurley, who organized the forum, said the city's youth always have been divided by neighborhoods. Although some groups of youths have engaged in illegal activities, he said, he has not seen evidence of organized gangs operating in Laurel.
"They (neighborhood groups) don't have the structure for gang activities, but hang together for comraderie," Gurley said. "Many of them identify with the Crips, but they're grouped together by neighborhoods, and sometimes those (gang-like) behaviors show up."
Still, Gurley said Perry's comments did not surprise him.
"MS-13 is showing up in all schools, so I really think they are here. I don't think Laurel has the presence that other communities have, but what he (Perry) is saying is that the signs are showing up and that's all over the county."
The Tabernacle Church, located on South Laurel Drive, in recent years has gone out of its way to offer tutoring and recreation programs for area youths in an effort to help combat crime.
Gurley brought community leaders together to address issues such as possible gangs in Laurel and to come up with ways that faith and social- services leaders can help law enforcement officials slow the rising crime rate.
Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey urged the participants to go beyond the walls of their churches and agencies to find new ways to prevent youths from turning to crime and to help those who have turned their lives around.
"We need to counterbalance the efforts of MS-13 and pull our children in the right direction, and do whatever we need to do," Ivey said. "Intervention and prevention are important. ...(If they do go to jail), they all come out and the question is, What do we have in place when they come out? Do they stay with what they know, or try other stuff? Right now, what they know is winning."
Gurley called on local business owners to provide more jobs for those who have been incarcerated, to "help them become productive citizens who don't go back to jail."
Law enforcement officers told business owners that the owners could help solve and prevent crimes.
Jay Sharma, the new general manager of Red Roof Inns on Laurel Bowie Road, said, "I'm willing to do anything to assist the police officers. If you need to change your clothes (while working on a case), I'm willing to help."
Chief Moore said citizen assistance is especially needed to slow the increase in auto thefts. While Ivey said auto thefts have dropped by 9 percent in the county this year, Moore said auto thefts are on the rise in Laurel.
"I had bragging rights, and now suddenly I'm up ... feeling the same pressures as (Prince George's police Chief Melvin) High, though not to the same effect," Moore said.
In addition to encouraging educators to talk to parents to get them involved in crime-fighting meetings and events, Ivey volunteered to speak at some of the events himself.
"Sending flyers home isn't going to do it," Ivey said. "Get the churches involved in back-to-school nights and PTAs and ask all parishioners to go. ... We need to think outside the box."
Mayor Craig Moe described the sharing of information and ideas at the two-hour forum as a step toward solving some of the city's crime problems.
"We've always said we can't do it alone," Moe said. "There are never enough police on the streets and we need your help. Call us when you see something suspicious because we need everyone working together."
Gurley said the next forum will be an all-day event that includes residents as well as officials sharing information and ideas on solutions to fighting crime. The forum is not yet scheduled but probably will be held later this year, Gurley said.
Gangs in Laurel? Officials at crime forum disagree
08/18/05
by Gwendolyn Glenn
While Laurel police officials continue to insist there are no legitimate gangs operating in the city, a Laurel High School official disputed that assertion at a local crime forum Friday.
During a packed meeting at The Tabernacle Church, attended by the mayor, police chief and other area officials and social agency heads, Laurel High School Assistant Principal Randolph Perry shocked some when he spoke of a gang problem in the city.
"MS-13 (a national Latino gang) is real and they're here in Laurel, and we're tearing the graffiti down every day at Laurel High," Perry said. "They're here, chief. ... Not here like they want to be, but they're here.
"We're seeing the beginning of recruitment efforts. They have tried to access our campus, but we do a great job of keeping them out."
Although police officials have acknowledged that bona fide gangs such as MS-13 are operating in nearby Calverton and Beltsville, Laurel police have contended they have no hard evidence the gangs have infiltrated the city.
"I disagree that there's a gang problem at Laurel High School," police Chief David Moore said in an interview this week. "I've talked to the head of security (at Laurel High), and we work closely with her and she disagrees with that comment. I think the world of Dr. Perry, but I was very surprised by his comments."
According to Moore, whenever there are reports of gang-related graffiti on buildings, his officers photograph the markings and study them to determine if they are authentic. He said their investigations have only turned up gang copycats.
"The symbols that gangs use are very specific and they understand their language, as do our officers," Moore said. "But what we've found is kids mimicking gangs with graffiti art, and not hard-core gangs.
"This is not to say that it couldn't grow into a problem, especially as more kids from outside move to Laurel, so I am concerned," Moore said.
Laurel High Principal Theo Cramer, who also attended the crime forum, said that while the school has had markings resembling those of organized gangs scrawled on it, he doubts there are legitimate gangs at the school.
According to Cramer, the graffiti Perry referred to is not a daily occurence, but usually shows up at the end of a weekend on buildings in the back of the school.
"It is a concern because we don't want to see any" graffiti, Cramer said. "It has been confirmed by county school system security and the (Laurel) Police Department that it looks like authentic gang graffiti. ...We don't follow up on it but the police may look at it with their experts and determine if it is."
When asked why school officials do not track these incidents, Cramer said, "We have had racist remarks on buildings and we don't follow up and inquire if we have the (Ku Klux) Klan in the area."
Tabernacle's pastor, Bishop Randolph Gurley, who organized the forum, said the city's youth always have been divided by neighborhoods. Although some groups of youths have engaged in illegal activities, he said, he has not seen evidence of organized gangs operating in Laurel.
"They (neighborhood groups) don't have the structure for gang activities, but hang together for comraderie," Gurley said. "Many of them identify with the Crips, but they're grouped together by neighborhoods, and sometimes those (gang-like) behaviors show up."
Still, Gurley said Perry's comments did not surprise him.
"MS-13 is showing up in all schools, so I really think they are here. I don't think Laurel has the presence that other communities have, but what he (Perry) is saying is that the signs are showing up and that's all over the county."
The Tabernacle Church, located on South Laurel Drive, in recent years has gone out of its way to offer tutoring and recreation programs for area youths in an effort to help combat crime.
Gurley brought community leaders together to address issues such as possible gangs in Laurel and to come up with ways that faith and social- services leaders can help law enforcement officials slow the rising crime rate.
Prince George's County State's Attorney Glenn Ivey urged the participants to go beyond the walls of their churches and agencies to find new ways to prevent youths from turning to crime and to help those who have turned their lives around.
"We need to counterbalance the efforts of MS-13 and pull our children in the right direction, and do whatever we need to do," Ivey said. "Intervention and prevention are important. ...(If they do go to jail), they all come out and the question is, What do we have in place when they come out? Do they stay with what they know, or try other stuff? Right now, what they know is winning."
Gurley called on local business owners to provide more jobs for those who have been incarcerated, to "help them become productive citizens who don't go back to jail."
Law enforcement officers told business owners that the owners could help solve and prevent crimes.
Jay Sharma, the new general manager of Red Roof Inns on Laurel Bowie Road, said, "I'm willing to do anything to assist the police officers. If you need to change your clothes (while working on a case), I'm willing to help."
Chief Moore said citizen assistance is especially needed to slow the increase in auto thefts. While Ivey said auto thefts have dropped by 9 percent in the county this year, Moore said auto thefts are on the rise in Laurel.
"I had bragging rights, and now suddenly I'm up ... feeling the same pressures as (Prince George's police Chief Melvin) High, though not to the same effect," Moore said.
In addition to encouraging educators to talk to parents to get them involved in crime-fighting meetings and events, Ivey volunteered to speak at some of the events himself.
"Sending flyers home isn't going to do it," Ivey said. "Get the churches involved in back-to-school nights and PTAs and ask all parishioners to go. ... We need to think outside the box."
Mayor Craig Moe described the sharing of information and ideas at the two-hour forum as a step toward solving some of the city's crime problems.
"We've always said we can't do it alone," Moe said. "There are never enough police on the streets and we need your help. Call us when you see something suspicious because we need everyone working together."
Gurley said the next forum will be an all-day event that includes residents as well as officials sharing information and ideas on solutions to fighting crime. The forum is not yet scheduled but probably will be held later this year, Gurley said.
posted by Steve Nawojczyk at
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