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Type: Article

Section: Special Units

Interpreting That Writing On the Wall

Graffiti continues to be used as a written form of communication between street ganges. An observant patrol officer, police investigator, probation/parole officer, school teacher and gang member can read graffiti and collect valuable information about past, current and future gang activities.

March 31, 1998

SWAT Teams Need Strong Leadership

No police department would ever consider sending police officers onto the street without proper training or equipment to handle routine calls. Without hesitation, police department send their officers to state-of-the-art equipment. This is equally true when it comes to training and equipping high-risk or specialty units such as SWAT teams, gang units, repeat offender units and emergency response teams.

March 31, 1998

American Graffiti Revisited

Today, tagging has become an international issue and taggers can be found worldwide. From a law enforcement perspective, it is difficult, at best, to monitor and track all of the individual taggers and tag crews.

February 28, 1998

LAPD Faces Urban Warfare In North Hollywood Bank Shoot-Out

Imagine yourself working uniformed patrol at 9:15 a.m. on a warm sunny day and you suddenly find yourself in Beirut, Bosnia, or back in the Mekong Delta. You go from thinking about where you'll stop for the next cup of coffee, to having your black-and-white shot up with full automatic AK-47 rounds.

March 31, 1997

The Birth and Evolution of the SWAT Unit

It wasn't the tower sniper incident alone, however, that finally convinced America's police departments that SWAT teams were needed. Other events occuring across the country also had their breath.

March 31, 1997

Gang Tracking: War on Gangs Goes Hi-Tech

Loco wears his scar almost like a first-place ribbon. The curved line of flesh that arcs around his left, eye like a backward "c" has been his badge of honor for years, the mark of a gangster who has made it, who is not afraid to put himself in harm's way for the glory of the hood or the reputation of his gang.

November 30, 1996

Conducting Effective Witness Interviews

The ultimate goal of a gang investigation is to find the truth. What happened? Who did it? How? As law enforcement officers, how do we arrive at the truth? What is our part in the game plan? Here are some suggestions that may be useful for patrol personnel, detectives and follow-up investigators when dealing with witnesses and victims of gang crimes.

November 30, 1996

Nations at War Within Windy City Limits

These Chicago-based gangs follow strict dress codes and use body language as a nonverbal form of communication. A gang member can simply cross his arms to "announce" his gang affiliation.

October 31, 1996

Skinhead Groups Gain Youhful Following

Skinhead membership has traditionally drawn from dysfunctional working-class families, and it appears that many skinheads come from broken homes. Members can be as young as 13 and as old as 25. They typically possess average intelligence, but are often poorly educated.

September 30, 1996

Tracing the Roots of Black Gang Rivalry

The Crips and Bloods have now moved into their second generations, and traditions are being established within these gang families. The street gang lifestyle has become an acceptable way of living for some families.

July 31, 1996

A New Gang Threat Rears its Ugly Head

The Southeast Asian street gang is a fairly new threat on the gang battlefield. Their presence was first noted by law enforcement officials in Southern California in the late 1970s.

June 30, 1996

Careful Planning is Key to a Sound Investigation

Getting the case to court and obtaining a favorable decision by the bench or jury is always the goal in a gang investigation. And one of the greatest assets to any case is, of course, the witnesses. How do you solicit cooperation and a commitment to testify in court from these unique witnesses?

May 31, 1996

A Back-to-Basics Approach to Gang Investigators

You get dispatched to a possible gang shooting. When you arrive, the scene looks like it came straight out of' the movies. Family members are present and are hysterical. Several gang members are just milling around, and a lifeless body is on the sidewalk.

April 30, 1996

No Nonsense Negotiations

With improved communications systems, alarm systems and faster response times, first responders now have the advantage of arriving in the early stages — before things get out of control.

March 31, 1996

Decoding the Secret Messages on the Wall

Obviously, not all graffiti is gang graffiti. But once you are able to decipher their source and secret messages, graffiti becomes a useful source of information.

March 31, 1996

Easing Investigations on the Gang Battlefield

Photos, jewelry, hairstyles and body piercing are among the obvious physical traits investigators look for when profiling gangs. But understanding how the members think, act and feel also can help police develop a rapport with members, and in turn, help expedite gang-related investigations.

February 29, 1996

Incriminating Signs of the Rat Packs

When citizens hear the word "gang," they usually conjure up stereotypical images of Hispanic, Asian, black or white thugs roaming inner-city streets. But most cops working the gang detail understand that looks can be deceiving.

January 31, 1996

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