It takes a community to fight gang problem

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, August 11, 2007

Gang activity isn’t yet an epidemic in Snohomish County, but it is on the rise. The Everett Police Department is tracking the activity of roughly 20 gangs, though it’s hard to know how many members are in any particular area because they move from town to town.

Police and other officials are working together to fight the growing problem, but they can’t do it alone.

An increase in organized gangs is an unwelcome but typical byproduct of growth. Gangs thrive where social structures are weak, and it takes caring, involved communities to combat them effectively.

Clearly, it also takes the aggressive involvement of law enforcement, and local agencies are stepping up their efforts. School resource officers – cops on high school and middle school campuses – offer a critical first line of defense. They’re often the first adults to spot students who might be at risk for joining a gang.

A team that includes school administrators, school resource officers and other law enforcement officials from throughout the county, along with prosecutors, is meeting monthly to share information, spot trends and coordinate strategies. In Everett, a newly hired crime analyst will collect data from patrol officers and identify where police can best focus their resources to keep gang-related crime in check.

But other steps are needed, too. In Maryville, the recommendation of a graffiti task force prompted a law requiring property owners to remove graffiti within 48 hours or risk a $25 daily fine. The ordinance had substantial support from the community and local businesses, who understand that leaving graffiti in place, whether it’s gang-related or a less threatening kind of vandalism, creates an atmosphere conducive to crime and gang activity. Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon recently proposed a similar county ordinance.

But an effective anti-gang strategy also needs citizen involvement. Police can’t be everywhere, so if individuals make awareness a priority, they can take a more proactive role in ensuring their safety. This includes reporting suspicious behavior instead of leaving it up to someone else. Simple crime-prevention efforts, like keeping cars locked, help too.

Now is the time to put a lid on gang activity, before it becomes a more serious threat. Law enforcement and other agencies involved in fighting and preventing it need all of our communities to stand with them.