To the editor:
I have spoken with numerous parents who have expressed concern about gang related activity in their communities. A parent from Caribou stated she will not allow her children to play in the park near her school because of gang presence. Another parent stated her child witnessed a juvenile being beaten “into a gang” as a form of gang initiation.
Recent news articles claim gang problems do not exist in our area. One particular article stated police departments are getting training on gang behavior. If gang problems do not exist, why are we spending the financial resources on training? Refusing to admit there’s a problem, whether gang activity, illegal drugs or other crimes, can become a problem in itself.
My training, education and experience as a police officer includes extensive inner city gang training, including clubs from the West coast to the East coast, a great deal of which are 1 percent-ers. and inter-city gangs that want to take over our rural towns and communities.
How does one recognize gangs, gang members or gang behavior? Educate yourself and your family on gang behavior, a great deal of which is covered on the History Channel. Watch for graffiti with certain letters, hand signs, specific colors, bandanas — Bloods wear red and the Crips wear blue (both compliments of California). Gangs are territorial and use violence and supremacy against other gangs or anyone who gets in their way. Some of these “baby gangsters” are shaking down our kids for money and personal items in our schools, parks and streets.
How should we combat against gangs in our community? First, there must be a willingness to recognize and admit a problem exists. Our local law enforcement must be equipped with the proper equipment, manpower, public involvement and the willingness to win the war against gang activity.
As a former police officer in Aroostook County, I have first-hand knowledge of students with gang-related backgrounds who bring their gang-related behavior to our county from Boston, Connecticut, New York and the like. Often times these students get “shipped out” when in trouble and the gang activity temporarily subsides until another gang and its members are back on our streets. It’s a revolving door that is only going to get worse until we do something about it.
My family and I, like you and yours, will not tolerate such behavior from an inner city mindset of wannabe thugs in Aroostook County where you and I live. I am running for Aroostook County Sheriff and when elected plan to combat the war against gangs and criminal activity in our County before someone is seriously injured, or worse. It will take community involvement, but together we can fight the war against crime to keep our communities safe.
Easton
