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Lou Savelli

Lou Savelli

Sgt. Lou Savelli is the co-founder and vice president of the East Coast Gang Investigator's Association, a 23-year NYPD veteran, a former correctional officer with the Broward County (Fla.) Sheriff's and Hollywood (Fla.) PD.



Richard Valdemar

Richard Valdemar

Sgt. Richard Valdemar retired from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department after spending most of his 33 years on the job combating gangs.
Gangs

Blog - Gangs

Displaying 121  -  130  of  220

Patron Saints of the Mexican Drug Underworld (Part 1 of 2)  

June 1, 2010
In a strange way, the iconography ties together much of the evil perpetrated by the gangs that are trafficking in drugs and human beings and their violent inhuman behavior. There is a spiritual dimension to their madness and recognition of the signs and symbols of their belief system can help you identify them.

Gangsters in Blue  Law Enforcement Only

May 24, 2010
What are these cops thinking? Don't they realize that they are being used by the gang? Can't they see that should their gang friends become engaged in a violent situation (which is inevitable) there can be no good outcome for the badged members and associates?

Gangs Abandon Honor for an Unholy Alliance  

May 5, 2010
The lure of filthy lucre is too great. Gang members betray the ancient warrior's code of conduct for new tires and fancy rims, or a dime bag of dope. Honor is replaced by "bling."
Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies assigned to the Operation Safe Streets unit. Photo courtesy of Richard Valdemar.

Going Beyond Suppression Patrols To Eradicate Gangs  Law Enforcement Only

April 26, 2010
Los Angeles County Sheriff's Sgt. Curtis Jackson pioneered a different way to attack gangs. Instead of using "show of force" suppression patrols, Jackson relied on intelligent tactics.
A Crips 'tag' depicting the gang's trademark hand sign shows up on a wall on Classon Avenue in Brooklyn. Image via Flicker.com (horseycraze).

Facing the Facts of Gang Denial  

April 19, 2010
Denial and minimization of a gang problem allows the city's criminal gangs to take root. It also thwarts proactive anti-gang measures.
A confiscated prison drawing should warn LEOs about the dangers of the Surenos and their prison-gang masters, the Mexican Mafia.

Mexican Mafia: The Most Dangerous Gang  

April 12, 2010
No matter which big bad bloody band of barrio bad boys you might be dealing with, I'll bet they are taking their orders from prison-gang inmates. And when one prison gang member can walk with immunity into some street gang's turf and order them to murder one of their own, that's a clue.

Grand Theft Auto and Gangs  

March 25, 2010
Gang members, especially juveniles, receive little incarceration and lots of probation for car crimes. To gang members this is like a dog with rubber teeth, lots of bark but no bite. Almost every gang member I came in contact with in East Los Angeles and South Central Los Angeles had several prior convictions for some type of car theft.
Image courtesy of Richard Valdemar.

The Wolf Pack Mentality  

March 9, 2010
Do not underestimate gang members because they are young or small, scrawny wolves. Maybe you have even encountered and dealt with several of them individually in the past. Maybe you know their names and their families. Don't assume that they will hesitate to attack you because you are bigger, better armed and capable of utilizing deadly force.
Surenos often imprint tattoos on themselves of "SUR" (Southern United Raza) and the number "13," a reference to the 13th letter of the alphabet, M, to show their allegiance to La Eme, the Mexican Mafia. Image courtesy of Richard Valdemar.

Sureño Tattoos and Symbols  

March 3, 2010
Sureños can be found in every major city in the U.S. They can be found in Canada, Mexico, Europe, and South America. The big transnational super gangs such as Florence, 18th Street, and Mara Salvatrucha threaten the stability of some Central American nations.
Graffiti referring to Los Angeles-based gangs is scrawled on a military vehicle in the Middle East. Image courtesy of Richard Valdemar.

Gangs in the Military: Loyalty to Homeboys or Homeland?  Law Enforcement Only

February 16, 2010
Web Extra: Read the National Gang Intelligence Center's Feb. 15 report on gang infiltration of law enforcement and corrections agencies.
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