Because my neighborhood is too upscale to have any social problems! Denial does not protect our communities in America!
http://www.abc4.com/content/news/slc/story/TAKING-ACTION-Bridge-Graffiti/42XlVLBws0Ovj7qGirb5fA.cspx
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
Friday, August 14, 2009
Graffiti When Gangs Fight For Drug Dealing Turf
Utah And Americas Gang Crisis said...
http://www.slsheriff.org/lawenforcement/investigations/metrogang/graffitti.html
http://www.slsheriff.org/lawenforcement/investigations/metrogang/index.html
What Can I Do?
ALWAYS paint over graffiti immediately or call an agency which will paint it free for you. Research done in California shows that areas that are immediately painted over are much less likely to be "hit" again. Graffiti that is left up becomes a status symbol. Many communities have "adopt-a-wall" programs or programs that encourage volunteers to assist in cleaning off or painting over graffiti. Graffiti hot lines, for reporting graffiti, are available in many areas.(see contacts for your area)
NEVER confront or challenge someone who is tagging a wall. Street gang members are very often armed and may assault a challenger even if they are not. Remember, even taggers may be armed. If possible, obtain an accurate description of the individuals, graffiti, vehicle, and license plate number. Video tapes of graffiti activities are also useful. All information should be passed on to your local law enforcement agency to investigate.
If you find graffiti in public places please notify one of the following agencies for immediate free removal. Call the city in which it was found:
Salt Lake City 972-7885
or E-mail to graffiti@ci.slc.ut.us
Salt Lake County Sheriff 743-7000
Salt Lake County Graffiti Removal Program
West Jordan 569-5270
West Valley 963-3467
Sandy City 561-6712
On Billboards
3M National 1-800-362-8936
Reagan 521-1775
Young Electric Sign 487-8481
http://utahandamericasgangcrisis.blogspot.com
http://www.utah.gov/governorleavitt/speech/speech_101193.html
From October 11th, 1993 Speech: “Recently, we've all had a forceful wake-up call. We've all sensed that we have a problem with youth violence and gang activity . . . we see graffiti, we hear it from our children, we read news accounts of drive-by shootings. We've heard about it all over America. Now it happens here. Not just in Salt Lake City -- but in many towns in Utah -- large and small.
Our gang problem is growing. The statistics bear that out, but more importantly, we can feel it happening.
And it's affected nearly all of us.
A colleague has a daughter who goes to high school in fear every day because gang members have threatened and harassed her. Her father wanted to talk to school authorities, but his daughter said, "Don't do it . . . it would only make things worse."
Gangs rule by fear. Gangs use fear like graffiti -- to mark their territory. Fear is the invisible graffiti . . . it is the gang mark on our hearts. If a person feels fear, that person is not entirely free. And the value and quality of life are measurably diminished.”
Govenor Michael Leavitt - A CALL TO THE COMMUNITY, Speech to the Utah State Legislature, October 11, 1993
Utah Gangs Coming Out of the Shadows
Jul 10, 2008 by Eric Ray
http://kcpw.org/article/6297 (KCPW News) Gang violence in Utah is now in the spotlight following the drive-by shooting death of a seven-year-old Glendale girl. Salt Lake County Sheriff's Detective Lex Bell says police were able to suppress gangs in the late 1990s, but after several years of living in the shadows, gang members are starting to show themselves again.
"Now you're seeing that change again to where they are wearing their colors. They're out representing all over the place with their bandanas, with their gang colors, their belts, their shoelaces," says Bell. "Graffiti is everywhere. It's within the school system, on people's fences, on street signs. You can't drive a block anywhere in Salt Lake County, more or less, and not see some kind of graffiti."
Local police have documented more than 6,000 gang members in Utah, and once again plan to champion legislation to make it a crime to be a member of a gang in the state. Local gang detectives presented their own version of California's Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act, or STEP, to lawmakers last year, however it died in committee. Salt Lake City Detective Bob Eldard says the law is needed to make it easier to prosecute people involved in gang activity.
"What they've done there is criminalize being a gang member. The reason for that is not to criminalize the association, but it helps get the evidence of gang participation into court. Right now, most of the time when you go to trial, even on a drive-by shooting, you're barred from using the word gang because it would prejudice the jury," says Eldard.
Bell says the numbers in Utah are growing because many gang members have moved here from other states or they pass the gang lifestyle on to their children.
Please Pray for a 50 year old recent crime victim in our area!
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11634632
Kearns woman robbed in driveway by two gunmen
The Salt Lake Tribune
Posted: 02/05/2009 12:23:02 AM MST
A 50-year-old Kearns woman was robbed in her driveway Wednesday night, police said. Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office spokesman Don Hutson said a car seemed to be following the woman at about 11:20 p.m. Wednesday, but appeared to pass as she pulled into her driveway on the 5800 South block of Blue Iron Way (6135 West). As the woman got out of her car, two men armed with handguns walked up to her in her driveway and demanded her purse, Hutson said. She initially refused, but complied after one of the men pistol-whipped her. They fled in a small, boxy white car, Hutson said. The robbers are described as 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-7, 120 to 140 pounds, in their late teens or early 20s, wearing dark clothing, ski masks and hoodies. Anyone with information can call 801-743-7000.
-- Lindsay Whitehurst
http://www.longbeach.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=3361
Gang crime and calls to service increase. Support funding for Law Enforcement and specialized units. Look at the crime statistics for Utah.
Utahganggraffitiresearcher T. @ 4:02pm - Tue Sep 18th, 2007
Graffiti and Gang Activity Increases in Salt Lake County and Utah
Report Comment by Tmkjusticestudies T. @ 4:42pm - Fri Aug 3rd, 2007
I have been studying graffiti for well over one year formally as part of my Salt Lake County area study. I have the following comments to make about how to deal properly with the problem of graffiti vandalism.
1) Cover it up immediately whether owner, tenant of apartment, business home or whatever. The longer it stays the more likely "wanna-be" gang members will go back and vandalize again in the same spot or a surrounding area. Counties, Cities, and others have graffiti abatement programs that are free or that provide free supplies to those impacted. Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County have graffiti abatement as well as others.
2) Take it seriously. The most common times that graffiti seems to be done is between midnight and 4 am. So keep a watch for backpacks, and people hanging out near walls previous done or on corners of streets, high profile areas. Call the police if you suspect graffiti in progress or gang activity.
3) Parents need to be held accountable for their kids.
This goes for rich and poor and everyone. GET OVER THE NOT MY KID NOT MY FAMILY CHURCH, NEIGHBORHOOD DENIAL! FOR THOSE PUTTING DOWN MINORITIES,,,,, WAKE UP!!!! WHITE KIDS ALSO CONTRIBUTE TOO MUCH OF THE GANG ACTIVITY AND CRIME! THAT GOES FOR RICH OR POOR.
4) Watch for clothing changes, spray paint, permanent markers, and the excessive use of certain colors, and sports team logos. Is your child suddenly obsessed with RAP, HIP HOP, famous street gang members, or those street racer cars with dark tinted windows? Duh! That might be a clue to parents as well. These are not illegal but can be clues to a gang problem within the family.
5) Utah has many of the major gangs to put it mildly. These gangs are made up of white, and minority as well as many mixtures of different members.
6) Graffiti can be a clue to upcoming problems within your neighborhood or city, photograph it, or have the police photograph it, plot it out, and look for the culprits "monikers" individuals, or the graffiti "crew" that just did a huge fence or wall during the night.
7) Encourage lawmakers to provide funding to juvenile gang prevention, as well as funding for gang units and swat. Parents of "good" kids can help out here by maintaining curfew, and talking to their kids.
8) The wealthy white kids that I have spoken to about drug use and crime tell me commonly that mom and dad don't really keep track of them, and they have money and are bored. Good kids can go down the bad road and get involved with bad peers (gang members) that way.
9) See gang graffiti just done, or see it being painted call your local police department and report it.
10) As for the nasty comment about the west side town of West Valley City, Utah. I have lived in the upscale white areas of the valley near the mountains in expensive neighborhoods, I have friends that live in resort towns with million dollar plus homes, they problem of graffiti is everywhere! The gang problem is everywhere; my study has actually shown that West Valley City is in need of more funding and trained personnel to deal with the problem. Salt Lake City is the best with the best catalog of graffiti occurrences and they take it seriously as a city. Some of the other cities in the county are much less capable of dealing with it and do not document or do graffiti abatement in a timely or competent manner.
I am a college graduate with Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice, specialized focus on gang activity and subculture, culture class issues.
I am not a member of the Law Enforcement Community; however I am applying for agencies locally and at the federal level.
Denial is a huge problem in Utah with anything discussed involving crime. We unfortunately deny that Utah has a crime problem and that is not a good thing for the future of our State. Some progress has been made, however much needs to be done.
The longer we in Utah allow cities to deny they have a gang and crime problem the longer it will take to get Federal funding for Swat and Gang Units. The longer citizens will deal with car thefts, thefts from cars, vandalism, and less than safe neighborhoods. Most crime is linked to gang activity, and drug usage and distribution.
Take me to your neighborhood, I will show you the problems in it. It is up to citizens to work with police to help fix these neighborhood problems. Go to the Bureau of Criminal Investigations website for Utah. You may also go to the UCR published by the F.B.I. for crime statistics in your town, or area of Salt Lake City. Type in your town or zip code, then you can read the evidence before accusing certain areas of town of having higher crime rates. There are painful reminders of gang activity all over Utah, mostly car prowls (car break-ins), car thefts, and larceny. Most of the larger burglary cases are most likely gang related also.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=5402697
Judge expresses concern over number of Utah kids in gangs
January 23rd, 2009 @ 6:02pm
By Sandra Yi
Judge Andrew Valdez says more needs to be done to keep our kids out of gangs. He expressed that concern following the murder of Kearns High School student Esteban Saidi earlier this week.
The judge says the shooting shows a need for more parent outreach and education programs. "My first reaction was, again, we're parking the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff instead of building a fence at the top," Valdez said.
Valdez is a 3rd District juvenile court judge who has seen many families affected by gang violence. "The parents usually stand up and say they didn't know their kid was in a gang," he told us.
That's what strikes Valdez the most when families come before him in court. A significant number of his cases deal with juveniles as young as 10 years old who are involved in gang activity. "Even the kids who appear in my court don't admit they're in a gang, but their friends are," he said.
Valdez says that's why education is so important. He wants to empower parents and teach them how critical the kids' socialization process can be. "They will start forming identities. They will start grouping. Friends will become more important than family, and parents need to realize this is going to occur," he said.
Memorial outside Maria Menchaca's home
Parents need to know what resources are out there to help families. He also says a rapid response team is necessary immediately after a child is involved in any type of violence. That would involve clergy, crisis counselors, outreach workers and police.
Valdez really saw the need for that after 7-year-old Maria Menchaca was killed outside her home last year in a gang-related shooting. He says the girl's parents didn't even know where the girl's body had been taken. "They weren't aware in their responses that gang activity was in their own home. There was no one to help them through that," Valedez said.
He hopes that will be different for the families involved in the shooting at Kearns High School Wednesday and says it's not too late to make a change. "I'm optimistic, but I really believe we don't have a lot of time to wait. We need to take some immediate action," he said.
As for the shooting in Kearns, the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office now says a fist fight was planned on Wednesday between the victim's friend and the shooter. The teens had a long rivalry.
Somehow, the victim, Esteban Saidi, ended up getting shot and killed. Prosecutors are still screening charges against the suspects.
The sheriff's office and the mayor have planned a town hall meeting for Feb. 2 at Kearns High School to talk about gang violence.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=870997
Shooting Victim Allegedly Targeted for Wearing Red
February 6th, 2007 @ 9:22pm
Amanda Butterfield Reporting
A middle school student's life is threatened for wearing her school colors. We first told you about a gang-related shooting over the weekend. Tonight Amanda Butterfield found the shooter apparently targeted the victim simply because she was wearing red.
During spirit week students are encouraged to wear their school colors to show their school spirit, but the colors of this middle school are also the colors of a violent gang.
It's what all the kids are talking about at Eisenhower Middle School.
Student: "She was one of my friends."
One of their classmates, wearing the school colors for spirit week, was shot at by gang members.
Student: "I guess that there were some kids wearing red over at the mall and some girl got shot, and she had surgery a few days ago."
Capt. T. Mclachlen, West Valley City Police Dept.: "Unfortunately those colors are associated with local gang members."
It happened Friday night. The 15-year-old girl was at a movie at the Valley Fair Mall with friends, all dressed in red. There was some kind of confrontation in the theater, and as the girl and her friends were leaving, people in two cars flashed gang signs at them and opened fire, hitting the girl in the elbow.
The teenager told police she thinks she was targeted because she was wearing her school color, red.
Captain T Mclachlen: "It's a pretty sad state of affairs because of the clothing you are wearing you run the risk of being shot at."
It's mistaken identity among gangs and police say it happens more than you think. The worst case involved high schooler Bethany Hyde back in 1998. She was in a car that gang members thought was a rival. They opened fire, hitting and killing Bethany.
And Just like Bethany, the victim of last Friday's shooting was not in a gang. The Eisenhower Middle School student is recovering.
The shooting has taught her classmates a lesson they wouldn't have learned in the classroom.
Student: "You don't go to the mall wearing red in a big group because people will get all offended."
West Valley Police are still looking for the shooters.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=643612
ICP Juggalos Juggalettes
5 recent fights
“Juggalos or Juggalettes, as they refer to themselves, are raising concerns. They say the concerns are out of proportion. But a gang expert says schools and parents should be on guard.
The name for the band itself may seem pretty strange to some people. They're called Insane Clown Posse. Their fans are said to be among the most devoted on the music scene.
Many of their songs aren't likely to be played on TV.
Det. John Lefavor/ West Valley City Police Dept./Gang Specialist: "Their lyrics are very violent, very vulgar." Gang detective John Lefavor says fans of Insane Clown Posse proclaim themselves as outcasts. The so-called Juggalos and Jugalettes revolve around the band's logo. The hatchet-man emblem can be bought on clothing to outfit a fan from head to toe.
Lefavor says some are now forming gangs.”
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=4225190
West Valley City police say two Juggalos, 18-year-old and a 15-year-old boy, tried to kidnap by forcing him into a car. Socorro and neighbors went for help. Neighbor Henry Surowiec said, "She explained to us that a couple of guys wearing clown masks were running around grabbing kids and telling them to go with them."
But 5-year-old and his 8-year-old sister Socorro may have a different opinion. Socorro said, "He was screaming and saying that the strangers were grabbing his hand."
According to West Valley City Police Department, there are 3,000 to 4,000 Juggalos in Utah. Of those, about 15 percent are considered to be gang members.
Capt. Tom McLachlan, with the West Valley Police Department, said, "Not all Juggalos are involved in criminal activity, but there seems to be certain groups of them that do frequently become involved."
In July, two people police believed to be Juggalos used a battle-ax to stab a 17-year-old boy about a dozen times. Investigators said Cody Augustine and Scott Stapley used text messages to lure 17-year-old Justin Ennis out of his home. Once in the driveway, Stapley allegedly hit Ennis with the battle-ax, and Augustine reportedly stabbed Ennis up to a dozen times. Police found those suspects because the victim ripped a necklace off one of them. It had the symbol of the Juggalos
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=5346558
Teen shot three times outside restaurant
January 17th, 2009 @ 9:29pm
By Sarah Dallof
A fight in the parking lot at a West Valley shopping center took a potentially deadly turn when a 15-year-old was shot three times after pulling out a machete.
The teenager is in critical condition. Tonight, police say they have identified a person of interest but don't yet have him in custody.
Police believe the gunman fired five shots; three hit the teenager. The other two hit the windows at the Panda Express at 4643 S. 4000 West, where the fight took place.
It all started as a verbal argument between two teens walking in the parking lot and a car driving in. No one is sure right now what they were fighting about, but witnesses say it quickly escalated.
Lt. Dalin Taylor, with the West Valley City Police Department, said, "The victim actually got into a fistfight with one of the occupants of the vehicle. He was taking the better of the fight, the better of the beating, so he ended up pulling out a machete."
That's when the other man pulled out a .45-caliber handgun and started shooting. The 15-year-old victim, who had pulled out the machete, was hit three times in the arm, hand and leg. The suspect fled.
We talked to employees at the restaurant who said they were terrified by the shots. They say some customers ran to the other side of the dining area to get out of danger. However, about two hours after the bullets hit, the business was back open and pretty crowded.
Police are looking for a person of interest tonight. Right now they don't believe the shooter and victim knew each other, and they are investigating it as possibly gang related.
February 14, 2009 6:54 PM
Utah And Americas Gang Crisis said...
CRIME IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD - TYPE in your zipcode
Http://www.crimereports.com
Common gang related, drug related crimes: larceny, burglary, home invasion,assault, domestic violence,car prowl (theft from vehicle), car theft,vandalism graffiti, and obviously Drive By Shooting.
http://www.slsheriff.org/lawenforcement/investigations/metrogang/graffitti.html
http://www.slsheriff.org/lawenforcement/investigations/metrogang/index.html
What Can I Do?
ALWAYS paint over graffiti immediately or call an agency which will paint it free for you. Research done in California shows that areas that are immediately painted over are much less likely to be "hit" again. Graffiti that is left up becomes a status symbol. Many communities have "adopt-a-wall" programs or programs that encourage volunteers to assist in cleaning off or painting over graffiti. Graffiti hot lines, for reporting graffiti, are available in many areas.(see contacts for your area)
NEVER confront or challenge someone who is tagging a wall. Street gang members are very often armed and may assault a challenger even if they are not. Remember, even taggers may be armed. If possible, obtain an accurate description of the individuals, graffiti, vehicle, and license plate number. Video tapes of graffiti activities are also useful. All information should be passed on to your local law enforcement agency to investigate.
If you find graffiti in public places please notify one of the following agencies for immediate free removal. Call the city in which it was found:
Salt Lake City 972-7885
or E-mail to graffiti@ci.slc.ut.us
Salt Lake County Sheriff 743-7000
Salt Lake County Graffiti Removal Program
West Jordan 569-5270
West Valley 963-3467
Sandy City 561-6712
On Billboards
3M National 1-800-362-8936
Reagan 521-1775
Young Electric Sign 487-8481
http://utahandamericasgangcrisis.blogspot.com
http://www.utah.gov/governorleavitt/speech/speech_101193.html
From October 11th, 1993 Speech: “Recently, we've all had a forceful wake-up call. We've all sensed that we have a problem with youth violence and gang activity . . . we see graffiti, we hear it from our children, we read news accounts of drive-by shootings. We've heard about it all over America. Now it happens here. Not just in Salt Lake City -- but in many towns in Utah -- large and small.
Our gang problem is growing. The statistics bear that out, but more importantly, we can feel it happening.
And it's affected nearly all of us.
A colleague has a daughter who goes to high school in fear every day because gang members have threatened and harassed her. Her father wanted to talk to school authorities, but his daughter said, "Don't do it . . . it would only make things worse."
Gangs rule by fear. Gangs use fear like graffiti -- to mark their territory. Fear is the invisible graffiti . . . it is the gang mark on our hearts. If a person feels fear, that person is not entirely free. And the value and quality of life are measurably diminished.”
Govenor Michael Leavitt - A CALL TO THE COMMUNITY, Speech to the Utah State Legislature, October 11, 1993
Utah Gangs Coming Out of the Shadows
Jul 10, 2008 by Eric Ray
http://kcpw.org/article/6297 (KCPW News) Gang violence in Utah is now in the spotlight following the drive-by shooting death of a seven-year-old Glendale girl. Salt Lake County Sheriff's Detective Lex Bell says police were able to suppress gangs in the late 1990s, but after several years of living in the shadows, gang members are starting to show themselves again.
"Now you're seeing that change again to where they are wearing their colors. They're out representing all over the place with their bandanas, with their gang colors, their belts, their shoelaces," says Bell. "Graffiti is everywhere. It's within the school system, on people's fences, on street signs. You can't drive a block anywhere in Salt Lake County, more or less, and not see some kind of graffiti."
Local police have documented more than 6,000 gang members in Utah, and once again plan to champion legislation to make it a crime to be a member of a gang in the state. Local gang detectives presented their own version of California's Street Terrorism Enforcement and Prevention Act, or STEP, to lawmakers last year, however it died in committee. Salt Lake City Detective Bob Eldard says the law is needed to make it easier to prosecute people involved in gang activity.
"What they've done there is criminalize being a gang member. The reason for that is not to criminalize the association, but it helps get the evidence of gang participation into court. Right now, most of the time when you go to trial, even on a drive-by shooting, you're barred from using the word gang because it would prejudice the jury," says Eldard.
Bell says the numbers in Utah are growing because many gang members have moved here from other states or they pass the gang lifestyle on to their children.
Please Pray for a 50 year old recent crime victim in our area!
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11634632
Kearns woman robbed in driveway by two gunmen
The Salt Lake Tribune
Posted: 02/05/2009 12:23:02 AM MST
A 50-year-old Kearns woman was robbed in her driveway Wednesday night, police said. Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office spokesman Don Hutson said a car seemed to be following the woman at about 11:20 p.m. Wednesday, but appeared to pass as she pulled into her driveway on the 5800 South block of Blue Iron Way (6135 West). As the woman got out of her car, two men armed with handguns walked up to her in her driveway and demanded her purse, Hutson said. She initially refused, but complied after one of the men pistol-whipped her. They fled in a small, boxy white car, Hutson said. The robbers are described as 5-foot-4 to 5-foot-7, 120 to 140 pounds, in their late teens or early 20s, wearing dark clothing, ski masks and hoodies. Anyone with information can call 801-743-7000.
-- Lindsay Whitehurst
http://www.longbeach.gov/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=3361
Gang crime and calls to service increase. Support funding for Law Enforcement and specialized units. Look at the crime statistics for Utah.
Utahganggraffitiresearcher T. @ 4:02pm - Tue Sep 18th, 2007
Graffiti and Gang Activity Increases in Salt Lake County and Utah
Report Comment by Tmkjusticestudies T. @ 4:42pm - Fri Aug 3rd, 2007
I have been studying graffiti for well over one year formally as part of my Salt Lake County area study. I have the following comments to make about how to deal properly with the problem of graffiti vandalism.
1) Cover it up immediately whether owner, tenant of apartment, business home or whatever. The longer it stays the more likely "wanna-be" gang members will go back and vandalize again in the same spot or a surrounding area. Counties, Cities, and others have graffiti abatement programs that are free or that provide free supplies to those impacted. Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County have graffiti abatement as well as others.
2) Take it seriously. The most common times that graffiti seems to be done is between midnight and 4 am. So keep a watch for backpacks, and people hanging out near walls previous done or on corners of streets, high profile areas. Call the police if you suspect graffiti in progress or gang activity.
3) Parents need to be held accountable for their kids.
This goes for rich and poor and everyone. GET OVER THE NOT MY KID NOT MY FAMILY CHURCH, NEIGHBORHOOD DENIAL! FOR THOSE PUTTING DOWN MINORITIES,,,,, WAKE UP!!!! WHITE KIDS ALSO CONTRIBUTE TOO MUCH OF THE GANG ACTIVITY AND CRIME! THAT GOES FOR RICH OR POOR.
4) Watch for clothing changes, spray paint, permanent markers, and the excessive use of certain colors, and sports team logos. Is your child suddenly obsessed with RAP, HIP HOP, famous street gang members, or those street racer cars with dark tinted windows? Duh! That might be a clue to parents as well. These are not illegal but can be clues to a gang problem within the family.
5) Utah has many of the major gangs to put it mildly. These gangs are made up of white, and minority as well as many mixtures of different members.
6) Graffiti can be a clue to upcoming problems within your neighborhood or city, photograph it, or have the police photograph it, plot it out, and look for the culprits "monikers" individuals, or the graffiti "crew" that just did a huge fence or wall during the night.
7) Encourage lawmakers to provide funding to juvenile gang prevention, as well as funding for gang units and swat. Parents of "good" kids can help out here by maintaining curfew, and talking to their kids.
8) The wealthy white kids that I have spoken to about drug use and crime tell me commonly that mom and dad don't really keep track of them, and they have money and are bored. Good kids can go down the bad road and get involved with bad peers (gang members) that way.
9) See gang graffiti just done, or see it being painted call your local police department and report it.
10) As for the nasty comment about the west side town of West Valley City, Utah. I have lived in the upscale white areas of the valley near the mountains in expensive neighborhoods, I have friends that live in resort towns with million dollar plus homes, they problem of graffiti is everywhere! The gang problem is everywhere; my study has actually shown that West Valley City is in need of more funding and trained personnel to deal with the problem. Salt Lake City is the best with the best catalog of graffiti occurrences and they take it seriously as a city. Some of the other cities in the county are much less capable of dealing with it and do not document or do graffiti abatement in a timely or competent manner.
I am a college graduate with Bachelors Degree in Criminal Justice, specialized focus on gang activity and subculture, culture class issues.
I am not a member of the Law Enforcement Community; however I am applying for agencies locally and at the federal level.
Denial is a huge problem in Utah with anything discussed involving crime. We unfortunately deny that Utah has a crime problem and that is not a good thing for the future of our State. Some progress has been made, however much needs to be done.
The longer we in Utah allow cities to deny they have a gang and crime problem the longer it will take to get Federal funding for Swat and Gang Units. The longer citizens will deal with car thefts, thefts from cars, vandalism, and less than safe neighborhoods. Most crime is linked to gang activity, and drug usage and distribution.
Take me to your neighborhood, I will show you the problems in it. It is up to citizens to work with police to help fix these neighborhood problems. Go to the Bureau of Criminal Investigations website for Utah. You may also go to the UCR published by the F.B.I. for crime statistics in your town, or area of Salt Lake City. Type in your town or zip code, then you can read the evidence before accusing certain areas of town of having higher crime rates. There are painful reminders of gang activity all over Utah, mostly car prowls (car break-ins), car thefts, and larceny. Most of the larger burglary cases are most likely gang related also.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=5402697
Judge expresses concern over number of Utah kids in gangs
January 23rd, 2009 @ 6:02pm
By Sandra Yi
Judge Andrew Valdez says more needs to be done to keep our kids out of gangs. He expressed that concern following the murder of Kearns High School student Esteban Saidi earlier this week.
The judge says the shooting shows a need for more parent outreach and education programs. "My first reaction was, again, we're parking the ambulance at the bottom of the cliff instead of building a fence at the top," Valdez said.
Valdez is a 3rd District juvenile court judge who has seen many families affected by gang violence. "The parents usually stand up and say they didn't know their kid was in a gang," he told us.
That's what strikes Valdez the most when families come before him in court. A significant number of his cases deal with juveniles as young as 10 years old who are involved in gang activity. "Even the kids who appear in my court don't admit they're in a gang, but their friends are," he said.
Valdez says that's why education is so important. He wants to empower parents and teach them how critical the kids' socialization process can be. "They will start forming identities. They will start grouping. Friends will become more important than family, and parents need to realize this is going to occur," he said.
Memorial outside Maria Menchaca's home
Parents need to know what resources are out there to help families. He also says a rapid response team is necessary immediately after a child is involved in any type of violence. That would involve clergy, crisis counselors, outreach workers and police.
Valdez really saw the need for that after 7-year-old Maria Menchaca was killed outside her home last year in a gang-related shooting. He says the girl's parents didn't even know where the girl's body had been taken. "They weren't aware in their responses that gang activity was in their own home. There was no one to help them through that," Valedez said.
He hopes that will be different for the families involved in the shooting at Kearns High School Wednesday and says it's not too late to make a change. "I'm optimistic, but I really believe we don't have a lot of time to wait. We need to take some immediate action," he said.
As for the shooting in Kearns, the Salt Lake County Sheriff's Office now says a fist fight was planned on Wednesday between the victim's friend and the shooter. The teens had a long rivalry.
Somehow, the victim, Esteban Saidi, ended up getting shot and killed. Prosecutors are still screening charges against the suspects.
The sheriff's office and the mayor have planned a town hall meeting for Feb. 2 at Kearns High School to talk about gang violence.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=870997
Shooting Victim Allegedly Targeted for Wearing Red
February 6th, 2007 @ 9:22pm
Amanda Butterfield Reporting
A middle school student's life is threatened for wearing her school colors. We first told you about a gang-related shooting over the weekend. Tonight Amanda Butterfield found the shooter apparently targeted the victim simply because she was wearing red.
During spirit week students are encouraged to wear their school colors to show their school spirit, but the colors of this middle school are also the colors of a violent gang.
It's what all the kids are talking about at Eisenhower Middle School.
Student: "She was one of my friends."
One of their classmates, wearing the school colors for spirit week, was shot at by gang members.
Student: "I guess that there were some kids wearing red over at the mall and some girl got shot, and she had surgery a few days ago."
Capt. T. Mclachlen, West Valley City Police Dept.: "Unfortunately those colors are associated with local gang members."
It happened Friday night. The 15-year-old girl was at a movie at the Valley Fair Mall with friends, all dressed in red. There was some kind of confrontation in the theater, and as the girl and her friends were leaving, people in two cars flashed gang signs at them and opened fire, hitting the girl in the elbow.
The teenager told police she thinks she was targeted because she was wearing her school color, red.
Captain T Mclachlen: "It's a pretty sad state of affairs because of the clothing you are wearing you run the risk of being shot at."
It's mistaken identity among gangs and police say it happens more than you think. The worst case involved high schooler Bethany Hyde back in 1998. She was in a car that gang members thought was a rival. They opened fire, hitting and killing Bethany.
And Just like Bethany, the victim of last Friday's shooting was not in a gang. The Eisenhower Middle School student is recovering.
The shooting has taught her classmates a lesson they wouldn't have learned in the classroom.
Student: "You don't go to the mall wearing red in a big group because people will get all offended."
West Valley Police are still looking for the shooters.
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=643612
ICP Juggalos Juggalettes
5 recent fights
“Juggalos or Juggalettes, as they refer to themselves, are raising concerns. They say the concerns are out of proportion. But a gang expert says schools and parents should be on guard.
The name for the band itself may seem pretty strange to some people. They're called Insane Clown Posse. Their fans are said to be among the most devoted on the music scene.
Many of their songs aren't likely to be played on TV.
Det. John Lefavor/ West Valley City Police Dept./Gang Specialist: "Their lyrics are very violent, very vulgar." Gang detective John Lefavor says fans of Insane Clown Posse proclaim themselves as outcasts. The so-called Juggalos and Jugalettes revolve around the band's logo. The hatchet-man emblem can be bought on clothing to outfit a fan from head to toe.
Lefavor says some are now forming gangs.”
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=4225190
West Valley City police say two Juggalos, 18-year-old and a 15-year-old boy, tried to kidnap by forcing him into a car. Socorro and neighbors went for help. Neighbor Henry Surowiec said, "She explained to us that a couple of guys wearing clown masks were running around grabbing kids and telling them to go with them."
But 5-year-old and his 8-year-old sister Socorro may have a different opinion. Socorro said, "He was screaming and saying that the strangers were grabbing his hand."
According to West Valley City Police Department, there are 3,000 to 4,000 Juggalos in Utah. Of those, about 15 percent are considered to be gang members.
Capt. Tom McLachlan, with the West Valley Police Department, said, "Not all Juggalos are involved in criminal activity, but there seems to be certain groups of them that do frequently become involved."
In July, two people police believed to be Juggalos used a battle-ax to stab a 17-year-old boy about a dozen times. Investigators said Cody Augustine and Scott Stapley used text messages to lure 17-year-old Justin Ennis out of his home. Once in the driveway, Stapley allegedly hit Ennis with the battle-ax, and Augustine reportedly stabbed Ennis up to a dozen times. Police found those suspects because the victim ripped a necklace off one of them. It had the symbol of the Juggalos
http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=148&sid=5346558
Teen shot three times outside restaurant
January 17th, 2009 @ 9:29pm
By Sarah Dallof
A fight in the parking lot at a West Valley shopping center took a potentially deadly turn when a 15-year-old was shot three times after pulling out a machete.
The teenager is in critical condition. Tonight, police say they have identified a person of interest but don't yet have him in custody.
Police believe the gunman fired five shots; three hit the teenager. The other two hit the windows at the Panda Express at 4643 S. 4000 West, where the fight took place.
It all started as a verbal argument between two teens walking in the parking lot and a car driving in. No one is sure right now what they were fighting about, but witnesses say it quickly escalated.
Lt. Dalin Taylor, with the West Valley City Police Department, said, "The victim actually got into a fistfight with one of the occupants of the vehicle. He was taking the better of the fight, the better of the beating, so he ended up pulling out a machete."
That's when the other man pulled out a .45-caliber handgun and started shooting. The 15-year-old victim, who had pulled out the machete, was hit three times in the arm, hand and leg. The suspect fled.
We talked to employees at the restaurant who said they were terrified by the shots. They say some customers ran to the other side of the dining area to get out of danger. However, about two hours after the bullets hit, the business was back open and pretty crowded.
Police are looking for a person of interest tonight. Right now they don't believe the shooter and victim knew each other, and they are investigating it as possibly gang related.
February 14, 2009 6:54 PM
Utah And Americas Gang Crisis said...
CRIME IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD - TYPE in your zipcode
Http://www.crimereports.com
Common gang related, drug related crimes: larceny, burglary, home invasion,assault, domestic violence,car prowl (theft from vehicle), car theft,vandalism graffiti, and obviously Drive By Shooting.
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