The Gang Unit investigates gang-related crimes committed by members of criminal street gangs as defined by the state’s definition and federal code. They have the added responsibility of maintaining a working relationship with schools, social services agencies, community-based organizations, and other criminal justice organizations in a systematic approach to the prevention, intervention, and suppression of criminal gang activity. Duties
Sign up for our NewsletterWhenever agents, detectives, and officers are brought together from local, state and federal agencies, there are inherent difficulties that need to be addressed from the beginning Task forces are a frequently used tool by law enforcement to deal with a multitude of issues. Short term task forces are often formed for fugitive apprehensions, high-profile criminals or other “hot button” issues. Long term, task forces deal with narcotics or human trafficking. Gang task forces have been around for a long time, albeit in various forms. They have been used to target mafia members and transnational gangs as well as local street gangs. By their very nature, all task forces face difficult challenges. Whenever agents, detectives, and officers are brought together from local, state and federal agencies, there are inherent difficulties that need to be addressed from the beginning. Here are some requirements for a successful gang task force. 1. Have centralized command Obviously, every participating department will still have a major say in how the task force is used. It’s still partnership but, even if only for administrative and logistical reasons, it needs to be under one banner. 2. Be intelligence-driven 3. Staff with experts If it isn’t possible to have every task force member be a gang detective, then every effort should be made to put gang detectives in charge of teams with non-gang officers working for them. This may result in some hurt feelings if, for example, a sergeant from another agency is sent to work at a task force and he is made to work for a gang detective. But sending a group of non-gang experts led by non-gang experts to do gang suppression is like using a sledge hammer to crack an egg. 4. Deploy where you’re most needed 5. Be qualitative, not quantitative About the authorNick Perna is a Detective Sergeant in charge of the Street Crime Suppression Team with the Redwood City Police Department in Northern California. He has spent much of his career as a gang and narcotics investigator. He is a member of a Multi-Jurisdictional SWAT Team since 2001 and is currently a Team Leader. He previously served as a paratrooper in the US Army and is a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. He has a Master’s Degree from the University Of San Francisco. |