Fantasy World in Wilkes-Barre

I read with sadness the Times Leader article about the gang situation in Wilkes-Barre and the response of law enforcement to the influx of these violent groups. The law enforcement response was, essentially, "if you talk to your kids, they won't join gangs", and "we have been dealing with this situation for years...it's just different groups". Ignorance is indeed bliss.

If there is one thing that I have learned through my exposure to the criminal justice system in Hudson County, NJ over the past 15 years or so, it's that the influx of the Bloods has caused a huge increase in violent crimes. The gangs require an act of violence (either a beating, or sometimes, a murder) as the price of admission to the group. There is a hierarchy, who orders "work" to be done (violence associated with territorial disputes, personal affronts, or whatever) by the rank and file members. The Crips, for example, are targets simply because of their gang affiliation. Smaller local gangs are either destroyed or assimilated into the larger group.

The Jamaicans to which the Police Chief refers were more of a local gang, rather than a national network like the Bloods. Their violence related only to drug rivals, and not to the community at large. They were not recruiting from the streets. In stark contrast, the Bloods will declare an area "Blood" territory, and those who live there and oppose the will of the group in any way will be subjected to violence. Children in that neighborhood will be groomed for membership. They will join the gang out of fear, as they will witness the punishment meted out to those who stand in their way.

I saw two guys in Bloods colors at the BP in Pittston. I felt sick. If Wilkes-Barre does not immediately form a gang intelligence unit, and assemble a database of gang members and affiliations, the violence will spiral out of control in the city. Talking to your children about an ideal is of no use to them when their reality is living in a neighborhood rife with others who seek to harm them.

Dear Mr. Fantasy....I mean Chief....WAKE UP.