Gang Awareness Must Increase
In the past two weeks I have heard of one gang-related incident and actually was involved in helping three young teens get police assistance in another incident. Also somebody reliable mentioned an incident at the high school where an adult needed help.
Click here for a link to one source of information on a major gang. Parents and everyone else will have to gain awareness of these gangs. If children are afraid to go to school, they won't learn.
Several years ago, Plainfield's former police expert on gangs unhappily proved to be breaking the law himself, a very disappointing turn of events.
Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow has formed a homicide task force to deal with increasing homicides that authorities attribute to a rise in gang activity. Task force members will receive specialized training that will benefit their departments after their one-year assignment ends. The task force will be available around the clock and will also investigate a backlog of unsolved cases. Plainfield officers will take part.
According to press reports, officials in the county's largest city, Elizabeth, are not welcoming the new plan. Because Plainfield is said to have even more gang members than Elizabeth, we hope local authorities will be more amenable to cooperation with the county task force.
Click here to view a very large file on the 2007 Gang Survey conducted by the New Jersey State Police. It is the third such survey and is yielding a better understanding of what is happening in our counties and municipalities.
Plainfield authorities have broken up two major gangs in the past year and homicides have dropped dramatically. Still, more general awareness of gangs and how they behave can help prevent future problems.
--Bernice Paglia
Click here for a link to one source of information on a major gang. Parents and everyone else will have to gain awareness of these gangs. If children are afraid to go to school, they won't learn.
Several years ago, Plainfield's former police expert on gangs unhappily proved to be breaking the law himself, a very disappointing turn of events.
Union County Prosecutor Theodore J. Romankow has formed a homicide task force to deal with increasing homicides that authorities attribute to a rise in gang activity. Task force members will receive specialized training that will benefit their departments after their one-year assignment ends. The task force will be available around the clock and will also investigate a backlog of unsolved cases. Plainfield officers will take part.
According to press reports, officials in the county's largest city, Elizabeth, are not welcoming the new plan. Because Plainfield is said to have even more gang members than Elizabeth, we hope local authorities will be more amenable to cooperation with the county task force.
Click here to view a very large file on the 2007 Gang Survey conducted by the New Jersey State Police. It is the third such survey and is yielding a better understanding of what is happening in our counties and municipalities.
Plainfield authorities have broken up two major gangs in the past year and homicides have dropped dramatically. Still, more general awareness of gangs and how they behave can help prevent future problems.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 2:27 AM
3 Comments:
Bernice,
You are so right, more awareness is needed and wanted.
On September 2, Asst. Prosecutor Tiffany Wilson, sent a flyer to all of the Block Association Liaisons regarding PROCEED's United Communities for Your Empowerment Gang Awareness Community Forum on September 25 in Elizabeth. The info was also posted on the Plainfield Community Girl Scouts website calendar www.plainfieldgirlsouts.org. There was such great demand to attend the forum that event is now full to capacity and there is a waiting list.
Maybe a simular forum could be held here in Plainfield.
Bernice,
Until there is a zero (0) tolerance for inappropriate behavior in Plainfield, don't anticipate any substantive change in the direction or appeal of Plainfield as a place to invest or live. Zero tolerance is too threatening to the status quo or those that fear a rebirth of the community won't leave them with a seat at the table. News for them, their days are numbered - the last election said it all. Way to go people! Our day is knocking at the door - unless there is a lock on that door.
Bernice, you continue to be THE REPORTER and call attention to the truths that authority would sweep under the rug. If I recall over the past few years until the recent raid on the Clinton Ave gang we were assured that there was no major problem in Plainfield. Does this tie in with the report on school safety? One would think so.
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