Now Over to Wisconsin
Panel: Madison needs a plan to handle gangs
SANDY CULLEN scullen@madison.com
September 21, 2005
Former Madison Police Capt. Luis Yudice on Wednesday called for a community task force to address the growing problem of gang violence.
"We're lacking a comprehensive strategy so we can all work in unison," Yudice told about 50 people who attended a panel discussion on gangs and school violence presented by the group www.schoolinfosystem.org at the Madison School District's Doyle Administration Building.
Panelist Stephen Blue, delinquency services manager for the Dane County Department of Human Services, said the existing Dane County Youth Gang Prevention Task Force should be expanded, and panelist Hector Alvarez of Centro Hispano appealed to community members to become involved in a task force of the Latino Support Network.
They and other panelists, including La Follette High School Principal Michael Meissen and Madison Police Officer Lester Moore, acknowledged an increase in gang activity, especially among Latinos.
Blue said more girls also are becoming involved in gang activity.
"Last year they told me there was no gang issue in or around our schools," Moore said. "We're finally acknowledging we do have gang issues and we do have gang behavior in schools."
In the last couple of years, the types of offenses associated with gang activity have involved more violence, Blue said.
Blue and other panelists attributed the increase in gang activity to a growing number of students who feel a disconnection with their school and community, and with adults who care about them.
"We're getting a wake-up call that says certain parts of our community are not healthy," Blue said.
Yudice, who retired in January after 30 years with the Police Department, said a community task force is needed to define the scope of the gang problem and to provide the appropriate resources to deal with it.
"This is something we've been pushing for a while now," Blue said.
The gang problem does not belong solely to schools, police or parents, Yudice said. "It's a community issue."
Yudice said schools, police, parents and teachers have different perceptions of the gang problem and that at times they are duplicating efforts or are at odds with each other.
Blue said there is a need for early intervention with young people known to be at risk. With serious offenders, he said, "We need to find a way to grab them and bring them back."
Yearly budget cuts are making it difficult for schools and community agencies to address the needs of youths at risk for gang involvement, he said.
SANDY CULLEN scullen@madison.com
September 21, 2005
Former Madison Police Capt. Luis Yudice on Wednesday called for a community task force to address the growing problem of gang violence.
"We're lacking a comprehensive strategy so we can all work in unison," Yudice told about 50 people who attended a panel discussion on gangs and school violence presented by the group www.schoolinfosystem.org at the Madison School District's Doyle Administration Building.
Panelist Stephen Blue, delinquency services manager for the Dane County Department of Human Services, said the existing Dane County Youth Gang Prevention Task Force should be expanded, and panelist Hector Alvarez of Centro Hispano appealed to community members to become involved in a task force of the Latino Support Network.
They and other panelists, including La Follette High School Principal Michael Meissen and Madison Police Officer Lester Moore, acknowledged an increase in gang activity, especially among Latinos.
Blue said more girls also are becoming involved in gang activity.
"Last year they told me there was no gang issue in or around our schools," Moore said. "We're finally acknowledging we do have gang issues and we do have gang behavior in schools."
In the last couple of years, the types of offenses associated with gang activity have involved more violence, Blue said.
Blue and other panelists attributed the increase in gang activity to a growing number of students who feel a disconnection with their school and community, and with adults who care about them.
"We're getting a wake-up call that says certain parts of our community are not healthy," Blue said.
Yudice, who retired in January after 30 years with the Police Department, said a community task force is needed to define the scope of the gang problem and to provide the appropriate resources to deal with it.
"This is something we've been pushing for a while now," Blue said.
The gang problem does not belong solely to schools, police or parents, Yudice said. "It's a community issue."
Yudice said schools, police, parents and teachers have different perceptions of the gang problem and that at times they are duplicating efforts or are at odds with each other.
Blue said there is a need for early intervention with young people known to be at risk. With serious offenders, he said, "We need to find a way to grab them and bring them back."
Yearly budget cuts are making it difficult for schools and community agencies to address the needs of youths at risk for gang involvement, he said.
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8:03 AM
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