Youth And Criminal Street Gangs
The Moses Lake Police Department has adopted innovative strategies to combat crimes committed by juveniles, young adults as well as those associated with criminal street gangs. Many of these strategies are programs and duty assignments directly targeting individuals responsible for committing property crimes as well as violent crime. The overall intent is to promote the Department’s Mission Statement of “… preserving our citizen’s integrity and safety by providing timely, professional and effective police service”. The premise of our strategy is to utilize a holistic approach in an attempt to deter and prevent crimes committed by young people. Examples of the programs and strategies include:
SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS
School Resource Officers (SRO) have been assigned to the Moses Lake School District for approximately 10 years. Two Officers are currently assigned to this program. The positions are funded by the School Districts Operations Levy. The primary function of these officers is to investigate crimes which occur on school property. SROs interact and develop a rapport with students and staff. This provides important insight, and occasionally develops intelligence information which results in arrests for crimes which occur off campus. In the summer months, SROs are assigned non traditional patrol shifts to work youth crimes.
DISTRICT FUGITIVE TASK FORCE
This Task Force includes U.S. Marshalls and officers from Spokane and the Columbia Basin. This multiagency task force has been in operation for the past two years. MLPD has one Detective assigned part time. The intent of the Task Force is to target individuals with either federal or state warrants. Individuals with criminal street gang backgrounds are frequently the subject of the Task Force. Federal funding for overtime and vehicle expenses are provided in this agreement. The Task Force provides manpower assets not normally available in Moses Lake.
SPOKANE REGIONAL GANG INTELLIGENCE NETWORK
The intelligence network provides critical data on indentified gang members in Eastern Washington. It also tracks known gang members from other states that’ve moved to or from our area. It allows officers the ability to input information as well access valuable data not available in State or Federal maintained systems.
STREET CRIMES UNIT
The Street Crimes Unit (SCU) primary responsibility is to investigate street crimes, utilizing community oriented policing principals. SCU investigates and eradicates illegal gang activity. SCU also works as problem solvers for any perpetual property crimes such as malicious mischief, burglary, vehicle prowl and thefts. SCU is funded by a four year federal grant. It will provide salary and benefits for two officers.
GRANT COUNTY JUVENLE PROBATION
MLPD officers work with Juvenile Probation Officers to identify offenders. Frequently, Juvenile Probation Officers assist Moses Lake Officers during criminal investigations involving juveniles. Juvenile offenders are also assigned to community service projects to include graffiti removal.
MOSES LAKE MUNICIPAL CODE 8.14.030 (GANG ABATEMENT)
Our local Municipal Code allows the Police Department to commence the eviction process of suspected gang houses. In conjunction with RCW 9.94A.030 and 59.18.510, landlords who allow tenants to engage in gang related activities shall commence eviction of the tenants. MLPD has successfully utilized this ordinance on four occasions. See attachments.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CODE ENFORCEMENT
Community Development Code Enforcement Officials assist in the removal of graffiti. City officials contact property owners and offer means to have the graffiti removed, or coordinate with Juvenile Probation to arrange the removal. Grant County and neighbouring communities have since adopted similar ordinances which mandate graffiti removal within 72 hours.
COLUMBIA BASIN GANG TASK FORCE
A multiagency task force for gang emphasis patrols throughout the Central Columbia Basin. The task force was recently created to assist smaller rural communities in Grant and Adams County deter gang activities. The task force is a coop of all Grant and Adams County law enforcement agencies.
The programs listed above are not all inclusive, and are examples of the Department’s ongoing efforts to combat youth and gang crimes. We also deploy two “graffiti” cameras throughout the city. The cameras are designed to catch and deter subjects creating graffiti. These cameras were purchased from grant funds. However, our most effective tool are patrol officers. Patrol officers actively seek out suspicious subjects and conduct field interviews. Frequently, these contacts result in arrests for active warrants.
I hope this information will be helpful. We are excited to initiate the Street Crimes Unit this summer. The Moses Lake Police Department’s Street Crimes Unit will be a valuable and much needed asset in combating crimes committed by juveniles, young people and those involved in criminal street gangs. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions concerning this information.
Sincerely,
Dean G. Mitchell
