Gangs: Page 12

How Gang Members Ambush Officers

Any suspect, who may feel cornered, may unexpectedly turn and ambush pursuing police officers. Situations for possible gang-ambush traps may spring from successful tactics practiced on gang rivals and adapted to spring on police officers.

Mexican Cartel Violence: None Dare Call It Terrorism

In the last three years, 23,000 people are estimated to have been killed in the Mexican drug gang violence. This daily body count rivals totals from Iraq and Afghanistan, but the U.S. downplays any "cross-border spillover" or homeland security threat. None dare call this terrorism.

In a recent seizure, Zapata County Sheriff deputies confiscated 3,500 AK-47 rounds and 320 military issue .50 caliber machine-gun rounds. Photo courtesy of Richard Valdemar.

The Border War With Mexican Cartels

The word "war" is not just hyperbole; it correctly describes what is going on. It's estimated that the violence—kidnapping and murder—has driven 400,000 locals out of the Juarez area with an estimated 30,000 fleeing to El Paso and beyond. A U.S. border sheriff claimed that the cartels printed fliers ordering his residents to evacuate their homes in the border area or they would be murdered.

El Paso (foreground) and Juarez (background) are on the front line of a border war between law enforcement and Mexican cartels. Photo via Flickr.com (Paul Garland).

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

Some human sacrifices to Santa Muerte have been claimed in Tijuana and Nuevo Laredo in 2006. In 2008, 11 headless bodies were found in the Yucatan and the heads were said to have been burned in honor of Santa Muerte.

Photo of 1997 infant murder scene in Santa Ana, Calif. The crime scene was a converted garage in which the 'high priest' conducted occult rituals to a mixture of Afro-Caribbean and Mexican 'saints' and deities. The picture depicts one of the main altars with the Mexican drug cartel saint 'Santa Muerte' (Holy Angel of Death).

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

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

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

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."

Going Beyond Suppression Patrols To Eradicate Gangs

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.

Los Angeles County Sheriff's deputies assigned to the Operation Safe Streets unit. Photo courtesy of Richard Valdemar.

Facing the Facts of Gang Denial

Denial and minimization of a gang problem allows the city's criminal gangs to take root. It also thwarts proactive anti-gang measures.

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).

Mexican Mafia: The Most Dangerous Gang

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.

A confiscated prison drawing should warn LEOs about the dangers of the Surenos and their prison-gang masters, the Mexican Mafia.

Grand Theft Auto and Gangs

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.

The Wolf Pack Mentality

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.

Image courtesy of Richard Valdemar.

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