| With gangs, there are basically three components that a gang is about: 1. Respect 2. Reputation 3. Retaliation.
The respect the gangs think they are getting from the community when they start shooting up the neighborhood or damaging property is false. They are hoping their actions will make people fear them which in their minds translates to respect. Most cases the response is anger....which is in conflict with respect. You can't respect someone who just broke out the windows on your car when you are trying to payoff the car and can hardly make ends meet as it is.
As far as reputation, who wants to be known as the real bad ass in the gang? Realistically every rival member wants a piece of you, the cops know everything about you and will drool about putting you in prison, and also when a violent gang member is finally "put to rest" because of his/her actions will the community be up in arms about the poor gang kid or will they be saying "good riddance!" In prison, that bad ass will be "tossing the salad" of Bubba and he will now have a quite different reputation.
Retaliation is what has been happening recently. Someone wanting the reputation decides to make a move against a rival gang. That gang has to step it up a notch to retaliate or risks losing face. This continues until either the people that started the whole mess are locked away, or some innocent bystander gets caught in the cross fire.
As far as what the community can do, the people need to be the eyes and ears for police. If you know there is a party in your neighborhood with lots of kids sporting their "colors" (and they will since that is their whole identity) then let the police know. If you blow it off the next thing that will happen, especially now, is a rival gang will show up. There will be some shouting, gang hand signs shown, and then comes a spark that starts either a fight or some gunfire. Since there has been a higher amount of gun shots, more gang kids will be carrying weapons to protect themselves. Throw in some alcohol, drugs, and other members nudging them along...bang!
There are roughly 30,000 people in Dodge City most of which are adults. There are probably 20-40 actual gang members with a propensity for violence and anywhere from 5-9 officers on the street at any given time. Do the math...there are more hard working adults and families here that outnumber gang members. Don't be a vigilante but help law enforcement rather than closing your blinds, shutting off the lights, and cowering under the bed pretending nothing is happening. This is your city, not the gang's.
Parents, watch what is happening with your children. No one knows your child better than you. If you see changes in clothing such as the bandanas, unexplained injuires, and changes in associates then you need to act. There is a whole list of clues to look for but if you don't know the clues, ask the gang detail at the police department. They are more than willing to help you. If you don't act and your child joins a gang, your child will be lost both to you and also to him/herself. Getting a child out of gang is extremely difficult so that is why it is so crucial to stop them from joining in the first place.  |