By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Some recent graffiti on a Water Street building in downtown Caribou has some residents speculating about the emergence of gangs in Caribou, but according to Caribou Police Chief Michael Gahagan the city streets are — and have been — gang free.
Caribou Police have looked through the writing on the wall and suspect that a lone adolescent created the vandalism. Symbols spray painted onto the Water Street building and an adjacent dumpster include gang signs of the Bloods and more recent graffiti signifying the Crypts and a lesser known gang called the Folk Nation; the second series of unsightly vandalism on Water Street seems to have strengthened the police department’s suspicion that the markings are the result of a Caribou youth with nothing better to do — and a single youth by definition contradicts gang activity.
To exemplify the situation, the police department is required to annually fill out a gang activity report and for another year in a row, Chief Gahagan has nothing to include in the report.
“If the public is involved and vigilant in reporting any problem to the police then there won’t be a gang issue because Caribou’s police department and citizens are working together to keep the city gang-free,” Chief Gahagan said. “There can only be a gang in the city if you allow it to be there.”
The graffiti has caused a few residents and business owners to express their gang-related concerns to Chief Gahagan, who openly offers his assurance to all residents of Caribou that the city streets continue to be gang free.
Staying ahead of the curve in an effort to be prepared for anything, the Caribou Police Department will be sending two officers to a workshop — free of cost for the city — aimed at identifying and dealing with gang activity.
As always, suspicious activity should be reported to the Caribou Police Department by calling 493-3301.
