Speaking of GANGS

[pootsy]

It's all about the money $$$$$ Oh and another thing...I bet that someone is also making money on the drugs as well, In fact I guarentee someone is. Question is, who is that someone. It's funny that they started busting all those meth labs...wonder why??? Oh is it because somebody didn't have their hands in that cookie jar? Is it because they were taking money away from the big man?? **** Dodge City and that stink that goes with it.

[K C Muffin]

I agree, Poots, to a degree. The packing plants were lured here for the money they'd bring. But it wasn't out of selfishness. And it's been obvious for quite a while nobody had their hand in the cookie jar here - hell, the packing plant doesn't even pay taxes! There are just a lot of folks that make money off the packing plants. Either they've rented homes/apt to folks that work at the packing plant or they sell food to the packing plant employees. Just because you and I left the area doesn't mean others aren't content to live there. Maybe they are sick of the crime, too. But there are other reasons for them to remain. That doesn't make them bad and it doesn't make Dodge bad - it just makes it not good for you or I.

[pootsy]

KC I would do anything to be able to raise my kids in DC. I hate it my 13 year old nephew has to go through that crap. He is such a great kid with a HUGE heart. I am so scared for him. I feel sorry for any kid to have to go through that shit. KC the best thing I ever did was leave there. I miss my family though..what's left of it anyway.

[K C Muffin]

You said a mouthful there - me too

[The Drifter]

Originally Posted by pootsy

It's all about the money $$$$$ Oh and another thing...I bet that someone is also making money on the drugs as well, In fact I guarentee someone is. Question is, who is that someone. It's funny that they started busting all those meth labs...wonder why???

i'll tell you who is making that money. The government, they bring in the drugs that they grow in colombia and other nations, then they go forward and sell the drugs to the minorities in poverty and then inturn those minorities are arrested and the goverment systematically keeps the minorities suppressed. that's what's really goin on here.

[Flying Dutchman]

Drugs have been a part of Dodge since the wild west days. It has nothing to do with the poor, or the government allowing the drugs here. When XL expanded and brought in the Vietnamese along came the gangs. The Asain gangs, though, are very disciplined and keep to themselves. Even the young ones in it now are disciplined. You never hear of them, or hear of their activities because they like to keep a low profile. The high influx of illegal aliens to our community brought the gang problem we have now. Illegal aliens have no stake in the community, they have no roots and they do not care about culture. This has been going on for about 20 years now and is out of control.

[mommiedearestx3]

This was taken from the KSNW web site about gangs


Showdown in Dodge: Gang violence cripples the historic Wild West
DODGE CITY, Kansas, Feb. 28, 2007 – "I think gangs are here to stay," Shane Webb, a Dodge City police officer, said. "I think there will always be gangs."

For over two decades, Dodge City, made famous by outlaws from the old Wild West, has been dealing with a different kind of lawlessness: Hispanic gangs.

"Dope, guns, you can get everything, a wide array of crimes, they'll commit, battery, fights at local clubs," Officer Shane Webb, Dodge City police department, said.

Police Chief John Ball, a part of Dodge City law enforcement for 25 years, says the city's gang problems surfaced in the mid '80s.

Fueled by the meat packing industry, Dodge's population grew steadily. With that growth, came social problems including gangs.

According to the chief, there are currently 10-active gangs in Dodge, comprised of 300 members. That's 1 percent of the city's population.

And there's no indication the problem is going away any time soon. One big reason is that so many parents are working long hours at the packing plants.

"You have some of these young individuals that don't have parental influence, guidance at certain times, so they seek to have that family base somewhere else," Ball said.

In response, the police department has taken an extremely pro-active approach. Officer Shane Webb is part of a full-time, four-member gang task force.

"We actually try to seek out some of the people we know as gang members, do home visits on them, people who are on probation, or corrections," Webb said.

Law enforcement also tries to reach kids not yet sucked into gang life. As we found out, the peer pressure in dodge is tremendous.

"Kids would walk down right down the hallway and write their gang signs right on the locker," Carl Helm, Dodge City Middle School principal, said.

That's some of what happened last year during Helm’s first as Dodge City Middle School principal.

The problem, Helm says, has improved drastically. Seventy cameras are now mounted throughout the school, uniforms eliminate gang colors, teachers are given gang-awareness training and of course, students are constantly reminded about staying out of gangs.

"I think we've made a step forward," Helm said. "I wouldn't say we've done away with the problem."

"I hear about it everyday, people coming down the hallway, throwing gang signs and everything, yeah," said Ivan Lopez, Dodge City Middle School student.

Lopez says fear of retaliation keeps him and other students from going to the staff. The 13 year old says it's easier to rely on friends.

"So they got my back, and I got theirs," Lopez sad.

Despite those kinds of sobering statements, law enforcement remains cautiously optimistic.

"We got control on things right now," Officer Shane Webb said. "But at any given time, someone can say something to someone, and everything will blow up again."

[The Drifter]

For what it's worth, my post was a joke and should be regarded as such.

[Wildcat12]

My child came home from Comanche and told me that 2 sixth graders were arrested, hancuffed, & led out of the school. Turns out that they brought pot to school & was selling it for candy. Outrageous! I'm so upset about this!

[Detector]

The Asian gangs keep a low profile because they've always been a minority the Hispanic gangs, now that that are the majority, are not afraid to fly their colors in public.

If you have kids in school ask them about what they see at our public schools. Most parents will be outraged to find even their kids have some affiliation ties to one gang or another. Not so much from choice as for security. They can not rely on anyone but each other. If the schools were to punish gang activity they would have no students.

For this reason the schools have adopted a Hear no evil See no evil stance.