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Keep Relentless Pressure On Local Gangs Of Ruffians

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 28, 2009

It's reassuring that local law enforcement appears intent on keeping the lid on gang crime. Last week, some 75 suspected gang members were arrested in a joint operation conducted by the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Tampa Police Department, Florida Highway Patrol, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the U.S. Marshal Service.

Suspects were arrested throughout the county. Charges ranged from drug possession to not appearing in court on murder charges. This counterattack on gangs is critically important.

Last month USA Today reported that gangs in the United States have swelled to 1 million members, and the Justice Department's National Gang Intelligence Center estimates they are responsible for up to 80 percent of crimes in communities.

A report by the department found gangs are the "primary distributors of most illicit drugs" in the nation. And the prevalence of gangs increases virtually every type of crime from assaults to robberies.

In West Palm Beach officials recently blamed gang members for a rash of armed robberies and even some bank robberies. According to the Associated Press, West Palm Beach County has had 100 gang-related shooting incidents - and 10 deaths - in the last two years.

Things are not nearly so bad in Hillsborough, thanks to an aggressive effort by local law enforcement to respond to the first sign of gang activity.

Still, the Sheriff's Office estimates the county has about 1,800 gang members in Hillsborough alone. The region has more than 3,000. Deputies say there are about 150 gangs, though some have only a few members.

Last year, the Sheriff's Office made 1,178 gang-related arrests. It had close to 500 complaints about gang-graffiti, often the first sign of a growing gang presence.

It's important residents report any sign of gangs, even if it's only graffiti on a wall.

Last December Hillsborough residents got a painful preview of what can happen if gangs are allowed to run amok. A suspect in a gang-related murder opened fire with an assault rifle on pursuing officers in Plant City. The spray of bullets killed a passenger in a nearby car. The town was virtually shut down until deputies captured the suspect.

Sheriff David Gee, who created a gang-monitoring unit soon after taking office, also points out prevention is needed in addition to vigorous law enforcement. The department conducts anti-gang programs in both junior high school and high schools - years when youngsters are particularly susceptible to peer pressure.

The office also works with effective youth programs such as the Boy Scouts and Boys and Girls Clubs to steer youngsters away from gang life.

The focus seems to be working in Hillsborough. Gee says gang crime, while persistent, appears to be under control.

Yet the Justice Department warns, "Most regions in the United States will experience increased gang membership ... and increased gang-related criminal activity," including on the campuses of suburban and rural schools.

So there should be no relaxation on the part of law enforcement or the community in stopping the spread of this criminal cancer.

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