Turlock's Community Gang Task Force was formed
recently and has been meeting regularly to discuss gang concerns.
Gang-promoting graffiti is appearing on many fences, road signs, and
buildings.
The Turlock Police Department arrested 21
individuals in a citywide sweep March 17, seizing four firearms and various
drugs. Many of the persons arrested had ties to local gangs.
These indicators have prompted many concerned Turlock residents to ask
questions regarding the safety of their city.
"Gang activity is still on the rise," Turlock Sgt. Brett Aamodt
said. He added the city has a similar amount of activity compared to the rest
of Stanislaus County.
Violence is not the only cause for concern when it comes to gang
activity.
"Drug activity, burglaries, and thefts are all ways that gang members
support their activity," Aamodt said.
Police are working on gathering information to help minimize gang violence
within the city, Aamodt said.
"We don't have real good intel on gang activity," Aamodt said.
"We are hoping to learn more about them."
"There are more gangs than just the Norteņos and the Sureņos,"
Aamodt added. "There is an influence of gang activity from other cities.
Gangs tend to be transient."
While thwarting gang activity and gang violence is a concern of the police,
Aamodt said the department is trying to focus on all criminal offenders, not
just gang members.
Education is a key element in stalling youth gang recruitment and
affiliation. Aamodt said the department plans to make presentations to Turlock
schools in the coming months. The presentations aim towards educating
students about the dangers of gang life.
Many feel that gang activity is confined to the southern region of Turlock,
but Aamodt said graffiti - one way gang members mark their territory - can be
seen in north Turlock as well.
"Graffiti has been seen all over town," Aamodt said. "We
have even seen it on Olive Avenue near Dennis Earl School."
The police department has yet to document any female gangs residing in the
city, but some females in the city have ties to gangs via their boyfriends or
families, Aamodt explained.
A City Perspective
Turlock councilwoman Beverly Hatcher feels that gangs are becoming a
problem in the entire region, not just Turlock.
"We consider it an extremely important area that needs to be worked
on," Hatcher said. "I know that (police) Chief (Lonald) Lott has
spoken on the subject also."
Hatcher said she has seen a lot more graffiti within the city in the past
three years.
She said sometimes parents are too busy to realize who their children are
associating with possible gang members.
"All it takes is one wrong person to get to a child," Hatcher
said regarding gang recruitment.
Hatcher said she hopes to see more meetings where parents can be informed
of the dangers of gangs. A recent meeting was held at Wakefield Elementary
School.
Gangs are not just a police problem, or an elected officials problem. They
are a whole community's problem," Hatcher said.
Turlock Community Gang Task Force
Sean Byrne is a facilitator for the Turlock Community Gang Task Force. He
is also the program coordinator for the Turlock's United Samaritans
Foundation. The task force was created by the Turlock Community
Collaborative.
Byrne said the task force, which next meets April 10, gets together to help
educate parents and children about gangs.
"Gangs are always a problem in any city," Byrne said. "It is
definitely a countywide problem."
"They're here," Byrne said regarding gangs within the city.
"And they are recruiting youths."
Byrne applauded citizens efforts to get together and tackle the issue of
gangs.
Byrne said that the task force is trying to hold meetings in many parts of
Turlock, because gangs do not stay in one location.
"Richer or poorer, no section of the community is immune to
gangs," Byrne said.