Gang Crime Investigations Team
History
The Santa Rosa Police Department formed a gang investigation unit back in the late 1980's. Two officers were assigned to Violent Crimes 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 that the problem would no doubt escalate if not addressed. During this period the police 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 had been broken up due to budget and staffing shortages, the Santa Rosa Police Department reconstituted its anti-gang efforts. The Department formed the Gang Crimes 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:
The team works closely with outside police agencies. The members of the Gang Crimes Team 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. The District Attorney has assigned three full time prosecutors whose sole responsibility is to prosecute gang members to the fullest extent of the law. The gang team also works very closely with adult and juvenile probation. If a gang member is placed on probation he or she is given strict conditions that they not associate with gang members or attend any functions that gang members could be present. If these conditions are violated the gang member could face jail time for the original charge.
The gang problem has increased in Sonoma County since the early 1990's. Gang members will often attack rival gang members. Currently there are over 4000 gang members that are tracked within the County of Sonoma.
DEFINITION A criminal street gang is any group of three (3) 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.
Pre-teens and gangs - Tell tale signs:
Gang involvement can begin as early as elementary school. Children as young as 7 or 8 years old have been recruited to work for gangs.
Parents and educators should watch for the signs that their children or students may be involved with gangs. Changes in a child's behavior or activities which may be early warning signs of gang involvement include:
- Decline in grades
- Change of friends
- Truancy
- Keeping late hours
- Alcohol and other drug use
- Having large sums of money or expensive items which cannot be explained
- Developing major attitude problems with parents, teachers or others in authority
- Glamorizing gangs
Telltale signs of gang involvement include:
- Gang graffiti in his or her bedroom, on books, clothing, athletic shoes, posters and bedroom walls
- Gang uniforms or gang colors, red or blue
- Hand signals to communicate with other gang members, will often practice in the mirror "flashing" hand signs
- Photos showing gang names, slogans, insignia, hand signals, or individuals involved in gang activities
- Gang style language
- Gang tattoos or gang insignias
- Disclosure of gang membership
- Witnesses connecting the individual to gang activity
What parents can do:
- Increase your awareness of you child's belongings, clothes, and room. Know who their friends are and where they "hang out"
- Be willing to identify and address the dynamics within your family, as well as factors within the neighborhood and school that could be contributing to your child's gang involvement
- Talk to your child or teenager. Get answers to your questions about their behavior and discuss the consequences of being in a gang
- Talk to school officials and counselors. Ask if they are aware of campus problems and if there are school programs that will help
- Report and immediately remove any graffiti in your neighborhood or local school grounds
- TAKE ACTION! This is the most important thing you can do as an individual, a group, or an organization. DON'T IGNORE THE SIGNS OF GANG ACTIVITY.
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) 584-2602. 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.