A gang is a group of recurrently associating individuals with identifiable leadership and internal organization, identifying with or claiming control over territory in the community, and engaging either individually or collectively in violent or other forms of illegal behavior. Usually, gangs have gained the most control in poorer, urban communities.
Gangs are involved in all areas of street-crime activities like extortion, drug trafficking (both in and outside the prison system), and theft. Gang activity also involves the victimization of individuals by robbery and kidnapping. Street gangs take over territory or “turf” in a particular city and are often involved in “providing protection“, a thin cover for extortion, as the “protection” is usually from the gang itself.
Most gang members have identifying characteristics unique to their specific clique or gang. Many gang members are proud of their gang and freely admit their membership. Their personal belongings frequently boast the gang’s logo and the member’s gang name. Gangs generally share common characteristics such as the wearing of distinct clothing. However, some individuals on the fringe of gang involvement are reluctant to identify themselves as gang members.
They are usually armed, often unpredictable, travel in overwhelming numbers, and are not above attacking or even killing innocent people that are unlucky enough to be confronted by them. So, interacting with them individually can be very dangerous. If possible, make sure others are present and ALWAYS carry a camera to document any improprieties and ensure a neutral “witness.”
(This list of gang “identifiers” was compiled from a combination of factors listed in Wikipedia and on the LAPD website. Minus the links, of course.)
If you see any of the criminals pictured above, document their activities (preferably by video) and contact Nevada Cop Block immediately, if not sooner. A huge h/t to Dizz (another awesome member of the Las Vegas A-Cafe community) for creating the “warning” poster. Feel free to download the full size version and post it throughout your neighborhood so your friends don’t fall prey to this menace.
Oh yeah, join us!
Kelly is a lifelong resident of Las Vegas, who’s been very active in local grassroots activism, as well as on a national level during his extensive travels. He’s also the founder/main contributor of Nevada Cop Block, served as editor/contributor at CopBlock.org and designed the Official Cop Block Press Passes.
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Connect with Kelly at these social networks; Facebook, YouTube and Twitter.
Nice!!
Good work Dizz and crew!
Nicely done! Oddly enough LVMPD’s gang unit has a pretty decent reputation nationwide, yet the keep ignoring the biggest gangs in town.
Thanks!
I do suspect that “decent” is a bit of a relative term, though. I don’t have a lot of personal experience with LVMPD’s gang unit, although I’ve heard some stories. I did get heckled by one once on Fremont Street (probably 8 months ago).
I had actually been filming earlier and was wearing my Cop Block shirt. Everyone else had already left and I was walking back to grab my bike, when I passed an alley with at least three cops standing in it (the joke is too easy). One of them, who was in the gang unit, said something to me, but I was walking fairly fast and looking at my phone. So, it took me a second to figure out what he said, which was something along the lines of, “they don’t Cop Block us here in Vegas.” (Which is no longer true.:^])
Of course, by that time I had passed by them and would have to make a real effort to turn around and engage them. I also had put my camera up and would have to turn it back on and get it set up. That combined with the fact I was now by myself and outnumbered, I decided just to keep walking and head home to videotape another day.
Awesome Site, Keep up the great job. Thanks
for your time!