Dubuque police officer offers ways to fight gang influence
Schools must take proactive approach with gangs
By SCOTT NILES
Ottumwa Courier staff writer
ELDON — Southeast Iowa wants to stop gangs before they start in the area.
An informational session about gang awareness was presented at Cardinal High School Monday night in attempt to take a proactive approach to the topic.
Superintendent Arnie Snook said with some of the signs that the police and schools have seen around the area, they want to be prepared.
“Denial kills, denial hurts emotionally,” he said. “It may not be a problem now, but I was in a situation before that escalated to a killing.”
The school district asked Lt. Dan Avenarius, of the Dubuque Police Department, to come and speak to the community about the issue.
Avenarius is a member of the Midwest Gang Investigators Association and has done several talks and seminars to communities to inform them about signs of gangs and what they can do to keep their community safe.
“A proactive approach is the best thing that you can do,” he said. “Admitting that there is a potential for a problem in your area is a huge conquest.”
After talking with school officials and police, Avenarius said he believes gangs are not a threat to the area currently, but said if other rival gangs start moving into the area and kids start to get involved, then it could pose a potential threat.
The best way to prevent gang initiations in the area is to be aware of the signs of a gang and how they work.
“Where there are drugs, there are usually gangs,” he said. “Gangs only have a problem if the product they are selling is overrun by another product.”
He said identifying a gang is the first step. This can be done though several methods.
“Gang members usually have a symbol associated with them ... they can also wear specific colors and have a designated side to wear them on,” he said.
Mentioning several gangs, he said, it seem that there are only a few in the surrounding area.
The Mara Salvatrucha gang or the “M-13” gang seems to be the one officials around Ottumwa have noticed the most, he said.
“They are a very violent gang,” Avenarius said. “But, there doesn’t seem to be any problems.”
He warned parents to keep communication with their kids and stay active in their lives and heed any signs that might point to a gang membership.
Some of the signs include: a sudden drop in school performance, withdrawl from family activities, a sudden and secret change of friends, evidence of drug abuse and the list goes on.
“One sign is not enough to make your kid a gang member. But, if you start seeing five or six signs, then you might talk to them and ask some questions,” he said.
But, he emphasized the fact that “it is not illegal to be in a gang – it is only illegal when that gang comes together and participates in activities that break the law.”
Avenarius said the best thing to do is just to keep an open eye for graffiti (or drawings of symbols), styles and behavior patterns that would suggest a participation in a gang.
“As parents, you have the right to question what your child does,” he said.
Scott Niles can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchsi.com.
By SCOTT NILES
Ottumwa Courier staff writer
ELDON — Southeast Iowa wants to stop gangs before they start in the area.
An informational session about gang awareness was presented at Cardinal High School Monday night in attempt to take a proactive approach to the topic.
Superintendent Arnie Snook said with some of the signs that the police and schools have seen around the area, they want to be prepared.
“Denial kills, denial hurts emotionally,” he said. “It may not be a problem now, but I was in a situation before that escalated to a killing.”
The school district asked Lt. Dan Avenarius, of the Dubuque Police Department, to come and speak to the community about the issue.
Avenarius is a member of the Midwest Gang Investigators Association and has done several talks and seminars to communities to inform them about signs of gangs and what they can do to keep their community safe.
“A proactive approach is the best thing that you can do,” he said. “Admitting that there is a potential for a problem in your area is a huge conquest.”
After talking with school officials and police, Avenarius said he believes gangs are not a threat to the area currently, but said if other rival gangs start moving into the area and kids start to get involved, then it could pose a potential threat.
The best way to prevent gang initiations in the area is to be aware of the signs of a gang and how they work.
“Where there are drugs, there are usually gangs,” he said. “Gangs only have a problem if the product they are selling is overrun by another product.”
He said identifying a gang is the first step. This can be done though several methods.
“Gang members usually have a symbol associated with them ... they can also wear specific colors and have a designated side to wear them on,” he said.
Mentioning several gangs, he said, it seem that there are only a few in the surrounding area.
The Mara Salvatrucha gang or the “M-13” gang seems to be the one officials around Ottumwa have noticed the most, he said.
“They are a very violent gang,” Avenarius said. “But, there doesn’t seem to be any problems.”
He warned parents to keep communication with their kids and stay active in their lives and heed any signs that might point to a gang membership.
Some of the signs include: a sudden drop in school performance, withdrawl from family activities, a sudden and secret change of friends, evidence of drug abuse and the list goes on.
“One sign is not enough to make your kid a gang member. But, if you start seeing five or six signs, then you might talk to them and ask some questions,” he said.
But, he emphasized the fact that “it is not illegal to be in a gang – it is only illegal when that gang comes together and participates in activities that break the law.”
Avenarius said the best thing to do is just to keep an open eye for graffiti (or drawings of symbols), styles and behavior patterns that would suggest a participation in a gang.
“As parents, you have the right to question what your child does,” he said.
Scott Niles can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at sjniles@mchsi.com.
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