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Monday, March 15, 2010
Ask Officer Michelle - New Gang Trend Has Neighbors Asking Questions
by Michelle Lazark, published on November 1, 2009 at 12:28PM
Storyline: Ask Officer Michelle
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Dear Officer Michelle,
I have seen allot of kids and young adults wearing white t-shirts and standing around on the street. A few times I have seen Police making arrests of some of these people in my neighborhood. Could you tell me what the white t-shirt represents? Doe’s it signal gang affiliation?
Dear MCE,
The long and short of it is that these young adults that are hanging around in the extra long, white T-shirts are usually gang affiliated. They do this for several reasons. The younger ones have a dress code at school and are unable to sport their “colors.” Wearing gang colors is also a way for law enforcement to validate them as gang members. They distinguish themselves by hair styles and different colored ties in their hair and the length of the T-shirts are also symbolic of this gang trend. Opposing gangs know who they are by virtue of the neighborhoods that they grew up in.
This new trend goes to show how well enforcement law has been doing to target gangs. Their numbers are smaller. They are trying to find new ways to evade the police; but we’re on to them. Now if they would only put this much effort and creativity into doing something positive, like education or honing in on a career, they’d go far. Good observation on your part and thank you for your post.
Officer Michelle
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Officer Michelle- I do disagree with you. 1) these "young adults" as you put it are often kids and teens. Strange how they are considered young adults when looked upon as suspects but when a 16yr old victim such as the victim taken, chained locked away by adults then we'll call them teens or boys and not young adults....
2) .You wrote: "Wearing gang colors is also a way for law enforcement to validate them as gang members." For goodness sake, Less are wearing gang colors (such as red or blue because less are in a gang it's more of cliques, dance groups... people hanging out in same area.... For goodness sake we are talking about KIDS usually with a lack of an education and not so bright ---not organized crime mafia middle aged adults. If ADULT sometimes middle aged law enforcement cannot ID KIDS cannot stay a step ahead of kids then my goodness it appears some in law enforcement are removed from the communities they serve.
3) you wrote: "They distinguish themselves by hair styles and different colored ties in their hair and the length of the T-shirts are also symbolic of this gang trend " No, law enforcement is distinguishing them by hair styles. My son, who is not a gang member decided to grow his hair out and low and behold he was stopped, questioned, searched (illegally since he is not on probation or parole) every since his hair grew longer. It is a hair fad, a hair style NOT A sign of being in a gang. SOME are trying to show they are not a gang member and trying to belong to something find a culture when culture was lost..... For goodness sake, Freedom of expression appears to be a privilege for some and a witch-hunt for others making them gang members or associates/ affiliates.
5) What??? The younger ones with a dress code at school and unable to "sport" their colors. Well let's see they are young and often dumb not being educated in schools will sell drugs in the open in front of a camera I don't think they are smart enough to PLAN TO not wear red or blue to wear a white T-shirt.
6) you wrote: "Opposing gangs know who they are by virtue of the neighborhoods that they grew up in." youth know who youth are usually because they grew up in the same neighborhood and played together, went to school together so a face unfamiliar who did not live on the block, play on the block attend the same school would be a youth from another neighborhood..... My goodness I will not say we do not have gangs but certainly their is too much ignorance associated with how we identify youth as gang members.....
7) you wrote "This new trend goes to show how well enforcement law has been doing to target gangs. " For goodness sake, the new trend goes to show how law enforcement moved people from wearing red and blue, people decided they weren't in gangs- weren't the people law enforcement said they were-- and it broke off --cancerous-- into another polop. Yes, law enforcement will always take the credit --and the money-- but MANY are working to prevent youth from being in gangs.
8) you wrote "They are trying to find new ways to evade the police; but we’re on to them.". Officer Michelle if they were trying to find new ways to evade police they'd stop commiting crime. They are trying to live having attended so many funerals, having lost so many friends, family, neighbors to death on the streets-- having seen the dead bodies.... and having to write, visit friends, family in prison. BUT what the heck they still have no resources (law enforcement gets that spending) and hopelessness translates into lawlessness and as father Boyle states "nothing stops a bullet like a job" and they still have no jobs, families still have no income and you seem to think these KIDS. TEENS, YOUTH are trying to find more ways to cleverly evade police. Oh my goodness Finally you wrote: " Now if they would only put this much effort and creativity into doing something positive, like education or honing in on a career, they’d go far. Good observation on your part and thank you for your post." Officer Michelle, if the city put more effort and creativity into doing something positive for them like education and employment, skills, vocation and less into suppression funding for what appears to be clueless law enforcement information regarding gangs-- we'd all go far.
I can't believe what I read. I can't believe this misinformation was sent out so blantantly without thought of how many people wearing affordable white t-shirts and who could be looking for an idenity in their roots with their hairstyle and you gave the impression they could be gang members. How dare you!
I want to add if Officer Michelle would have spent more time giving this a complete discussion, given it more thought, more insight, showing more value for the lives she could affect I would not have responded. But the way the question was addressed is concerning so I responded. LIFE and FREEDOM is extremely important and I will not keep quiet on discussions to round people up as cattle hauling off to prison mills or simply address youth violence, gangs... as written in this article I'm sorry I can not sit quiet. I figure it she knew better perhaps she'd do better if asked this type of question again. I wanted it to have an impact whether or not I am agreed with I don't care. I care that Officer Michelle looks in her heart and responds next time with more thought and concern for all people in the community. I do not hold grudges......I just look for and expect more from people -- in and outside of public safety- addressing youth violence - since it pertains to life and freedom and the pursuit of happiness............
Gotta run, but this is not a hit and run no need for a high speed chase. I'll come back and turn myself in for additional questioning if necessary.
No one like to hear herself talk as much as Rhonda which posted 7 of the 9 comments above.
It was Officer Michelle who wrote the article and actually Officer Michelle I'm waiting to respond to my previous posts. I will not play games with people with hidden or not so hidden agenda's. (oh, I'm learning)
Officer Michelle: Why haven't you responded to what I previously wrote (with the exception of the off the wall comments I made to others some who are not really protecting what you wrote but attempting to protect you and someone simply protecting you out of dislike for me. But why haven't you responded to my 3:32, 3:57 and 6:20 postings? I could care less about anyone else posting right now.......... I'm asking for a response from you - "Ask Officer Michelle " on my 1-8 responses to your article and to have an ongoing discussion with you- Officer Michelle, the writer of the article since some feel you are the expert.
As I said before, the police have been working hard at targeting the gangs as evident by the drop in crime. The gangs are trying to find ways to continue sell the drugs, and comit other crimes. Gangs still sport their colors; however, this new trend is growing. It is what it is. The police don't have any hidden motive. If you are going to dress yourself in a long white T-shirt (the shirts go down to their calf area...and yes you can buy them cheap at Walmart, but that's not their motive when they buy them), wear red or blue ties in your hair, hang out in gang areas of town with other like members, don't be suprised if you get stopped by the police...rightfully so! Which takes me to another point. This isn't necessarily a color thing. Gangs cross all ethnic lines. I'm not going to get into a racial battle with anyone here. I just wanted to clarify that we will continue to stop gang members and their associates regardless of their race if it means keeping the people of our city safe. Everyone has the right to be safe in their neighborhoods!
Rhonda, you should watch the public service announcement the department made a few years ago about gangs and what to look for. Go to www.sacpd.org and click on the PSA about gangs. The gang detective in the segment is Chris Mouzis. He is our most seasoned gang detective. Listen to what he says about youths and gangs...then form your opinion of what the police are doing, and why.
As for me, I do this not for personal gain. I have been writing the "Ask Officer Michelle" column for over 3 years on our department blog and in several other Sacramento periodicals. I do this because I truely believe in my department and I honestly want to help inform people with this feature. I have been with the Sacramento Police Department for almost 19 years. If there is a question or topic I don't have the expertise in, I consult the specialists who have more insight than I.
2) your response or argument in defense of your article Officer Michelle will gain you support from community members who read this site and have problems with gangs in their neighborhood. I thank you for taking the time to respond to what you feel others need to hear, know... on how gang members sell drugs and commit criminal activity and I do think we are all aware of that fact. I thank you for commenting to assure others of your ability to tackle gangs. However your comment is unacceptable. Bascially your comment was not directed to me but to others nor addressed each of my concerns but appearing to be an attempt for some type of damage control and to gain further support which I hope you receive.
3) I do not feel the "police" have hidden agenda's. My uncle retired as a Sgt from SPD. My father retired last month after 30yrs service as a Special agent DOJ . My sister Sheriff dept security officer, cousin a deputy - sheriff dept... I worked with a law enforcement officer to address gangs.... I have great respect for many law enforcement officers and I do not feel the "police" have hidden agenda's. And I do know for a fact some --not all- who patrol need further training.....Again, it appears you can send out the wrong message and someone could get the impression I'd feel "the police" have hidden agenda's thereby discrediting my concerns. Surely you have training in interrogation and could do a better job of not sending out the wrong message.
4) I am not trying to get into a racial battle with you either. In fact Officer Michelle I did not put this racial burger on the grill but I'm here to try and flip it since your article opened this can of worms. Officer Michelle I am extremely disappointed with your reply. And I started to voice my concerns here and line it up.....where you will have cheerleaders but your comment is not intended for me, it is intended to sway public opinion therefore I will simply send the lnk to the article and my concerns to my councilmember and ask that it be forwarded to Police Chief Braziel. I do have much respect for Chief Braziel and I do believe he will hear and genuinely address my concerns.
Thank you Officer Michelle. At first I really thought it's possible I could have made to much of it but now I realize --after reading your comment- I am not making enough of a deal of your article or the response you have given. Thank you for explaining to others your background..... thank you for replying. I read your comment several times and I am finished with this discussion on this site. As for me, I too do this not for personal gain. I have been addressing youth violence far longer than 3 years and I honestly and with all my heart want to help inform people. Since their is GREAT concern with your article and even greater concern with your response and I don't like wasting my time I will take it away from this site and out of your hands since it appears your ability to "protect and serve" is conditional on whether or not a person agrees with your article. Thank you
The police are right to pursue these people, and if your kids start to emulate the look, it should be a warning sign to parents that trouble is brewing and you shouldn't be surprised if the cops start getting interested in your darling children too!
Rhonda, please be more succinct - I got eyestrain reading all your posts and you're obviously not taking note of all the 'thumbs down's you're getting. When your comments take up 3-4 times the space of the original article, that should act as some sort of signal.
When ever parent is concerned and evey friend commited and every person speaking out loud. then acts of violence will disappear and love will be planted in our hearts. Gil Wainwright One love 2009 United Coast to Coast .. May you have the day that you think about and I hope you think about love.
dwestcoast@yahoo.com
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ONE LOVE 2009
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