Gang Crime Investigations Team
If you suspect gang activity in your neighborhood or school or suspect your child may be involved in gang activity, please call 543-GANG. If it is an emergency, call 911. If you suspect gang activity is occurring elsewhere in Sonoma County, call "MAGNET" at (707) 565-2511. If you happen to see an officer in your neighborhood, notify him or her of the problem. The only way to combat the gang problem is to work together. Click Gang Awareness for more information.
Gang Crime Team History
The Santa Rosa Police Department formed a gang investigation unit back in the late 1980's. Two officers were assigned to Violent Crime Investigations (VCI) for support in tracking and validating gang members. These two officers served as support for the detectives who at that time were investigating all major felony crimes including gang related crimes. These officers were assigned to document and track gang activity without any "proactive" enforcement.
In the early 1990's, Santa Rosa as well as Sonoma County started to see an increase in violent gang related activity. The Chief of Police at that time realized the problem would no doubt escalate if not addressed. During this period the department formed a gang unit comprised of two full-time police officers to investigate gang related crime. These two officers split their time between street enforcement and investigative duties. In 1996, one additional officer was added bringing the number of Gang Crime detectives to three. This team was the only full-time gang investigative section north of San Francisco.
In 2006, after the Gang Team was broken up due to budget and staffing shortages, the Santa Rosa Police Department reconstituted its anti-gang efforts. The department formed the Gang Crime Investigations Team, which is currently staffed with one Sergeant and seven detectives. One of the detectives is assigned to the North Bay Regional Gang Task Force, an FBI led effort to conduct pro-active long term investigations targeting criminal organizations.
Responsibilities of Gang Crime Team Detectives:
Detectives assigned to the Gang Crime Team accomplish their mission in a number of ways. They patrol the City in plain white or black patrol cars, focusing their enforcement efforts on gang activity. They also conduct comprehensive investigations of gang related crimes of all types. The team works closely with outside police agencies, including the Sonoma County Sheriff's Office, Sonoma County District Attorney's Office, Adult and Juvenile Probation, and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The members of the Gang Crime Team also participate in the Mayor’s Gang Prevention Task Force and support the gang prevention and intervention efforts taking place in the City of Santa Rosa.
Definition of a Gang:
A criminal street gang is any group of three or more persons with a common sign, name or symbol, who engage in a pattern of criminal gang activity. The crimes are done to benefit or further the gang, or are directed by the gang.
It is not against the law to belong to a gang. However, when a gang member participates in a gang related crime he or she can be charged with an enhancement that adds additional prison time to the original offense. To reduce gang violence, graffiti and illegal drug use in California, the Attorney General, the Legislature and the Governor have worked together to enact new laws specifically aimed at gangs. These laws assist law enforcement agencies, district attorneys, judges, schools, and communities in mounting a comprehensive attack on the problem. The Criminal Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act eradicate criminal activity by focusing upon criminal gang activity and the organized nature of street gangs.