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* Gang activity and gang violence is no longer an urban phenomenon. It has spread its tentacles into the Chicago suburbs and Northwest Indiana. Gang activity is a form of organized crime and must be pursued to ensure safety in our communities. * "If a kid is interested in gangs; that's an interest in drugs; that's an interest in violence and that's an interest in victimizing the weak. If that interest is there, that's a problem. It's just a matter of how long it takes for interest to turn to action." The Hammond Police Department recognizes the presence of criminal gang activity in our communities. Gangs are often involved in vandalism and tagging, auto theft, dealing illegal drugs, prostitution, burglaries, selling stolen goods, trading illegal weapons, and violence against other gang members and occasionally innocent members of our community. The mission of the Gang Suppression Unit is to gather intelligence and monitor activities of all known gangs and gang members in the City of Hammond. Members of the Gang Suppression Unit regularly make contact with local gang members, often trying to diffuse potential gang violence and discourage potential gang members from a life of gangs. A special interaction is needed when dealing with gang members. Unit members are firm when dealing with violations of the law but show respect for individuals during social interaction. This methodology of interaction with gang members has proven successful when addressing this community issue. The Hammond Police Department has taken a “ZERO TOLERANCE” stance against criminal gang activity in an effort to make our communities in the City of Hammond safe. The Gang Suppression Unit of the Hammond Police Department is and will continue to work together with the community members of the City of Hammond. Our top priority is to form a partnership with the citizens in our community in order to protect the interest of those in our community. The Gang Suppression Unit has partnered with the Community Policing Division of the Hammond Police Department in order to reach out to the citizens of our community. We will continue to form partnerships with the citizens of our community to combat and suppress criminal gang activity in the City of Hammond. We hope to see you soon at community meetings scheduled throughout the year.
Gang Defined According to the 2007 Indiana Criminal Code IC 35-45-9-1 IC 35-45-9-2 IC 35-45-9-3 IC 35-45-9-4 IC 35-45-9-5 IC 35-45-9-6 City Ordnances to Deter Gang Activity See City of Hammond Resource links below to view City of Hammond Ordnances that are used to deter gang activity.
What Gangs Do Many
gang activities are frequently shared by a large portion of
society, except for one important difference: gang members seek
confrontations with rivals. When gang members attend school,
a family picnic, neighborhood gathering or party, the potential
for violence and Why people join Gangs Children or teenagers join gangs for a variety of reasons: the excitement of gang activity, peer pressure, physical protection, attention and identity, financial gain, and family tradition. In many cases, youths are not actively discouraged from gang involvement by their parents, often because parents are unaware that their children are engaged in gang activity or have little knowledge of gang activity. The media has also helped fuel the desire of our youth to be part of a gang or look and act like gang members. The media has portrayed the life of a gang member as being meaningful and thrilling through the promotion of certain films, hip-hop/ rap music, and television shows. MTV has been one of the bigger promoters of the gang lifestyle. They know that the thrill and excitement that gang life portrays appeals to the majority of our youth in society. MTV has targeted these youth and market the “Rap” and “Hip-Hop” culture that goes along with the gang lifestyle. Gang Names Gangs generally identify themselves by a name derived from a street, neighborhood, or housing project where they are based, or from a rock band they like, or a cult they follow. Street Gangs Gangs are predominately territorial. Each gang has its own turf and graffiti marks its boundaries. Anyone not belonging in the area and who resembles any rival gang members may become the subject of attack. In recent years there has been a change with respect to territorial dominance. We have seen in many places members of rival gangs living in the same apartment complex or neighborhoods. This is a growing phenomena that is explained by a shifting and transient lower income population, and a more mobile and diversified society. The Left and Right Rule Some gangs stem from prison gangs that have returned to the streets and neighborhoods where they originally started. These gangs have different religious beliefs and/or code of honor, manifestos and/or mission statements. Because of the differences and alliances to their perspective gangs, the members show their affiliation by dress, writings, tattoos, graffiti, etc. These types of behavior are known as the LEFT & RIGHT rule. By dressing, writing, tattoos, etc., the member shows his or her alliance to the gang and shows rival gangs his or her gang designation. There are two main alliances that gangs will usually identify with. These are known as "PEOPLE" and "FOLKS". The "PEOPLE" gangs wear their identifiers to the LEFT side of the body. This would include, but is not limited to, hats, jewelry, or a rolled-up left pant leg. "PEOPLE" also represent their affiliation with the number 5 and/or the 5-pointed star. In their drawings, a 5-pointed crown, pyramid, top hat, crescent moon, or a rabbit head with straight ears may be seen. An upside down pitchfork is used to show disrespect to the rival "FOLKS" affiliation. The "FOLKS" gangs wear their identifiers to the RIGHT side of the body. This includes, but is not limited to, hats, jewelry, or a rolled up right pant leg. They represent their affiliation with the number 6 and/or the 6-pointed Star of David. Their drawings may consist of an upward pitchfork, a winged heart or a rabbit head with one bent ear and they will draw an upside down 5 or crown to show disrespect to the rival "PEOPLE" gangs. A few street gangs belong to neither the "FOLKS" nor the "PEOPLE". These independent gangs feel they do not need other gang alliances or simply want to form their own affiliation. These groups are often made up of members of several different gangs and refer to themselves as "Party Crews" and “Scavenger Gangs”. Dress Most gang members dress in a similar manner. The uniform or colors of local gangs can be easy to identify with a little bit of information. It includes white T-shirts, thin belts, baggy or sagging trousers, and a ball cap, which is normally cocked to one side or the other. Gang members also like particular brands of shoes, pants or shirts. For example, some gangs like to wear plaid Pendleton shirts in either: blue, brown, black or red. These shirts are worn loose and un-tucked. Gang graffiti, symbols, messages or gang names can be written or embroidered on jackets, pants and ball caps. Other identifying items include belt buckles with the gang's initials, key chains, or professional team jackets. Today, there is a trend to move away from gang identifiers so that “gang-bangers” are not so easily identified by police or rival gangs. Many gang members are wearing less obvious blue jeans and white t-shirts when out in public, saving their gang colors and jewelry for gang parties or more private events.
Figure 1- Examples of Gang Clothing
Figure 2 - Examples of Gang Body Art Monikers Individual gang members usually have a nickname or moniker that fits the individual's physical, personal or psychological traits. For example: A gang member called “Shorty” could get his moniker based on his height. Graffiti...The Danger of Writing A problem, which affects our neighborhoods in a variety of ways, is GRAFFITI. Without a doubt, this type of vandalism decreases property value in residential neighborhoods and creates a sense of fear or intimidation in the community. Of greater concern than the property damage is the random violence associated with gang graffiti. Gang members use graffiti to mark their "turf" or territory, declare their own allegiance to the gang, advertise the gang's status or power, and to challenge rivals. When a neighborhood is marked with graffiti indicating territorial dominance, the entire area and its inhabitants become targets for violence. A rival gang identifies everyone in the neighborhood as a potential threat. Anyone on the street or in their home is a target for drive-by attacks by rival gang members. Unfortunately, innocent people are often subjected to gang violence by the mere presence of graffiti in their neighborhood. Examples of Graffiti Found in Hammond
Figure 1- Gangster Disciples Figure 2- Latin Kings
Figure 3- Spanish Vice Lords Figure 4- Imperial Gangsters Report Graffiti to the Police Department and Call Judge Harkin’s Graffiti Removal Program 853-6410
People Nation Gangs of Hammond: Folks Nation Gangs of Hammond: Vice Lords (VL) Black Gangster Disciple (BGD)
Latin Kings (LK) Black Disciples (BD)
Black P- Stones (BPS) Spanish Gangster Disciples (SGD)
Brown Pride Locos (BPL) Maniac Latin Disciples (MLD)
Four Corner Hustlers (4CH) Two-Sixers (2-6N)
Spanish Vice Lords Imperial Gangsters Latin Counts Latin Dragons Mickey Cobras
Clues that You’re Child May be Involved with Gang Activity * Changes in behavior * Poor academic progress * Signs of alcohol / drug abuse * Lack of interest in extracurricular activities *Lack of interest in recreational activities *Unexplained truancies *Low self esteem *Resentful of authority * Radical change in friends *Radical change in clothing *Gang - oriented drawings on books, clothing etc. What Can I Do To Help? You and your neighbors can work with the police to help eradicate gangs and drugs from our community. Here are some suggestions on how to get involved:
Combating Gang Influence · DEVELOP GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS WITH YOUR CHILD - Good communication is open, frequent and takes on a positive tone. It allows your child to come to you to discuss any topic or problem. It does not condemn or put down. Good communications allows you to tell your child that you love them. · SPEND TIME WITH YOUR CHILD - Plan activities that the whole family can enjoy. Spend time alone with your child. Expose them to different places outside of the norm (i.e. museum, beach, parks, etc...). Give them attention. · OCCUPY YOUR CHILD’S FREE TIME - Give your child responsibilities at home. Get them involved in after school sports, recreation, clubs or church activities. · SET LIMITS FOR YOUR CHILD - Children need to know whit is acceptable and unacceptable behavior. Be consistent. · SET A CURFEW FOR YOUR CHILD - Avoid a lot of unsupervised time out on the streets and know where your child IS at all times. · KNOW WHO YOUR CHILD IS HANGING AROUND WITH - Meet and know your child's friends. Look for what type of influence they have on your child and how and where they spend their free time. Discourage your child from hanging around with gang members. · AVOID BUYING AND DISCOURAGE THE WEARING OF GANG STYLE CLOTHING - Wearing gang style clothes may express an interest in the gangs and will attract the attention of the gangs. · DO NOT ALLOW THE PRACTICE OF WRITING GANG SYMBOLS - Teach respect for other's property. Examine your child’s books, papers, clothes, bodies, and walls in their rooms for symbols or other gang markings. · MONITOR AND LIMIT YOUR CHILD’S USE OF THE INTERNET - Be especially wary of internet sites that your child frequents. Install software on your computers at home that limit where your child may navigate. Be especially wary of internet sites such as My Space.com, chat rooms, and fight rooms. Gangs also have websites with encrypted codes that allow them to discuss their activities and announce meetings, narcotic sales locations, and general information to members and potential members.
To Contact the Hammond Police Department Gang
Suppression Unit Gang
Suppression Unit Hotline 852-2950 or E-mail: gangs@hammondpolice.com
FOR AN EMERGENCY DIAL 911 FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE Resources for Gang Information G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education And Training) City of Hammond Resources Hammond Home Security Program- 852-2909, Call for assistance to secure your home. Hammond Urban Enterprise Association - 853-6512, Securitylighting installed at your home for no cost. City of Hammond Ordnances - www.gohammond.com/web/index.php?cityordinances Hammond City Court, Graffiti Removal Program - 853-6410
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