Although Racine could not divulge operational details
about his unit’s intelligence gathering techniques or name all the gangs
operating in Fall River, he did offer a blueprint for what the department is
doing to combat the growing problem.
Enforcement and intelligence
The tightly knit and mysterious gang society is vastly misunderstood by
many not involved in the so-called thug life.
Gangs are operated much like Fortune 500 companies, with a CEO running the
show.
"There are leaders all the way up the chain," Racine said.
"Sooner or later you get to the CEO. We eventually get to some type of
Mafia-style leader. They’re everywhere."
Across the nation, gangs are broken down into two distinct groups: Folks
and People.
The two sects then branch off into various specific gangs.
Racine said although it is impossible to know exactly which gangs are
operating within the city at any given time due to the constant movement of
gang members, he did offer a sort of hierarchical structure into which the
gangs are divided.
The Folk Nation sect includes gangs like the Crips, Cobras, Folks
Incorporated, Black Gangster Disciples and Young Guns. Racine said all Folk
members dress to the left. The predominant colors for Folk Nation are blue,
green and black.
The People Nation, which includes gangs like the Bloods, Kings, Counts,
Vice Lords, TMVs and TMCs, dresses to the right.Its predominate colors are
red, black and white.
Dressing to the left or right, depending upon the gang, means the brim of a
hat may be turned to one side, a pant leg rolled up on a side or shirt
collars turned up on one side only.
Most laypeople are under the false impression that all gangs are autonomous
and territorial, but Racine said gangs within the Folk or People sects often
work together.
"The gangs in our city are smart. They know what they’re doing,"
Racine said. "For instance, when the Fall River Crips, who usually wear
blue, commit a crime, they may wear all red to try to fool us. We’ve got to
take that into account when doing our investigations."
To obtain information vital to combating the city’s gang problem, Racine
sends out his officers to gather intelligence daily.
"Information is the lifeblood. My guys are out there shaking the trees
all the time. We want to know what’s going on in our city, but also
regionally and nationally," Racine said. "Most of the gang members
will talk with us if we try."
Racine said his officers frequently are out on the streets photographing
suspected gang members. The photos are immediately entered into a central
databank routinely used to solve gang-related crimes.
"New gangs are frequently coming into the city, especially Oriental
gangs. But we also have many gangs leaving the city at different times. It’s
a 24-hour job just keeping up with them," Racine said.
"The Latin Kings were operating up on Pleasant Street -- we went out
there and let them know we knew they were here, and now they’re gone."
The city, he said, definitely has its fair share of Crips, Bloods,
Disciples and Mafioso members. But the city also has a number of
less-organized neighborhood gangs.
"All the gangs are different and have varying degrees of criminal
intent. When the Oriental Bloods come down from Lowell, they aren’t coming
for a picnic," Racine explained. "We have to constantly monitor the
changing faces of gangs in our city."
Racine warned that just because the gang problem has not escalated to the
type of random acts of violence seen in New Bedford last summer doesn’t mean
the potential does not exist.
"In New Bedford last summer, the gangs were running wild and it was
extremely difficult to police. That could happen here," Racine warned.
"There’s no gang war in our city right now. We are actually seeing some
harmony, but I say that with caution. We’re not on an island."
Fortunately, according to Racine, the city is not home to members of the
most dangerous and violent gang operating in America today.
Mara Salvatrucha, also known as MS-13, has been expanding across the nation
during the past several years. MS-13 is an ultra-violent international gang
led by former El Salvadorian guerrillas.
In February, former Homeland Security Deputy Secretary James Loy called
MS-13 a new threat to the nation, and claimed they are similar to the
al-Qaida international terrorist organization.
The group, often called the most dangerous gang in America, started in
California during the 1980s. But since then, the gang known for grenade
attacks and beheadings has expanded and now has chapters in at least 15
states, including Massachusetts.
Racine conceded that MS-13 graffiti was found in the Flint section of the
city recently, but he also noted that no credible information points to MS-13
setting up shop in Fall River.
But Bristol County Sheriff Thomas M. Hodgson, says his own intelligence
unit has fingered at least 15 MS-13 members currently working in Bristol
County.
Hodgson, though, could not say where exactly these alleged MS-13 members
are hiding out.
"The tattoos and the markings we are seeing tells us they are
here," Hodgson said. "This is a gang unlike any other. They are the
most vicious and organized gang in the world. They have military disciplines
and are trained guerrillas."
Weapons of choice
Fall River has recently seen a rash of gang-related machete attacks.
Although Racine said the machete is not specifically a gang weapon, he noted
that weapons like the machete are the types of objects used by many gang
members.
"Machetes, knives and sticks are usually what we see," Racine
said. "They’re easy to use, not illegal to possess and very easy to
access."
But Racine also said most gang members do not use weapons unless absolutely
necessary.
"These people don’t want to be arrested," Racine explained.
"It’s not like they are carrying weapons everywhere they go."
Racine said the department also has an aggressive handgun reduction policy.
"This division has seized more than 25 handguns from the street since
we started the policy in 2001," Racine said. "This policy is
monumental in keeping a lid on neighborhood shootings."
A Regional Effort
The Fall River Police Department is only one agency. The department alone
can not ultimately solve the problem.
Racine says his department frequently works with prosecutors from the Bristol
County District Attorney’s Office, gang units from other police departments,
the Massachusetts State Police and federal law enforcement agencies like the
Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms.
In Dartmouth, Hodgson has his own Gang and Intelligence Units working
throughout the county in a continuing effort to infiltrate gangs before they
gain more power.
"We pick up a lot of information within our jails that can definitely
help the local police departments," Hodgson said. "I think the
police departments are working aggressively on this problem. Partnerships
with other agencies like our own is a fundamental issue.
"The days of working independently are gone. That’s a simple formula
for failure."
Racine agreed, saying information from the prisons locally and statewide is
"extremely helpful."
He also said it is crucial for his own officers to relay information about
specific crimes to the prosecutors handling various criminal cases.
Criminal charges like assault and battery or violating a park curfew are
crimes prosecutors see every day.
But Racine said if his department informs the prosecutors that these
sometimes neglected criminal charges are gang related, the district attorney
will usually argue for a greater punishment.
"A park curfew charge is very minor, but if the park is being used as
a territorial gang battle, then that charge should carry more weight because
it helps to solve the problems at a specific park that are eroding the
quality of life for the average citizen," Racine explained. "I
think District Attorney (Paul) Walsh has been very aggressive with this issue
and has prosecuted quality of life issues that effect us all."