What do you know about gangs?

There are many views of the LAPD, as I have found roaming through other Blogs and articles as well as getting into a few personal debates.As a wife of an LAPD Officer I am sure that all think my opinion biased so I am opening this up to your opinions.Here are a few questions for the public who so closely scrutinize the Officers of the LAPD in regards to Los Angeles Gangs.

1. With a ratio of more than 80,000 gang members( this is a VERY under-estimated amount and not including the more than 100,000 of those in prison) to 9100 LAPD Officers, what would you say the Police could do in terms of how they handle those who look like gang members? ( i.e. gang tat’s, known gang “look’s” ,etc) .
2. Do you think the Officers are safe enough on the streets at night dealing with a population that in gang members alone, out weighs them by more than 8-1?
3. How would you make the Officer’s feel more safe and protected in their job so as to lesson “over reacting”?
4. Are you worried that your child could become a gang member, be approached to enter a gang or cross someone who is in a gang and possibly enter harms way?
5. How much do you think gangs are involved with drugs, killings and violence in LA? Do you think gangs are as dangerous as everyone makes them out to be?
6. How would you get gangs off the streets and keep kids out of gangs?
7. List your thoughts on what a gang member looks like or how you might recognize a gang member .
8. Many parents are not aware that their child is a gang member . Would you be able to tell if your kid was in a gang and how?

Here is a website with information and facts on gangs .
Here
Parts of an article found Here

"Los Angeles is in terrible shape — again. The city's street gangs, which had been relatively quiet since the crack-cocaine epidemic of the late '80s and early '90s burned itself out, are back with a vengeance. After falling steadily from 1996 to '99, gang murders in the city increased 143% last year; 331 people died because of gang violence, in contrast to 136 in 1999. The violence got worse during the first half of this year, with a 23% increase in murders. Even as gang-related property crimes decrease — robbery is down 8.8%, carjacking is down 28% — other violent crimes are up. Felony assault by gangsters is up 9.7%, attacks on police officers are up 35.5%, witness intimidation is up 50%. In other words, there is less drug dealing and theft, more violence for the sake of violence. "It's a disturbing trend, and there's nothing I am going to be spending more time on," says Hahn, who has discussed the problem with President Bush."…““There are 100,000 gang members in jail in California, and they are getting out at a rate of about 3,000 a month, according to the state's department of corrections. This year alone will see more than 30,000 veteran gang members back on the streets….”“Chino went outside to smoke a joint. As he looked out over the roofs of the low-rent housing, his brow furrowed. "Sometimes I think I could have finished school and gone to college, but then I think, No — if I did it over again, I would be more careful, try not to get busted, make more money from drugs but have more organization. That's what I learned in prison." He has thought about getting a job, but the tattoos on his neck and face are an instant red flag to potential employers. "It's hard to change," he added. "Society pushes you back into the same pile of s___ you came out of. Back into the 'hood, drinking, kicking and selling drugs to a bunch of young kids, preparing them to take your place."

How Are Gangs Identified
Most gang members are proud of their gang and freely admit their membership. Many display tattoos openly and dress in a style identifying their particular gang. Their personal belongings are frequently covered with graffiti and bear the gang’s logo and the member’s gang name.Many individuals on the fringe of gang involvement are reluctant to identify themselves as gang members. They often state that their friends are gang members but they are not. However, rival gang members, shooting from a speeding car, do not make a distinction between a gang member and his associates. Gangs share common characteristics such as the wearing of distinct clothing or using particular hand signs or signals. Although details will vary, the following overview provides general information about the identification of gang members (if outside the city of Los Angeles, check with your local law enforcement agency for current information):

Graffiti. Gangs use graffiti to identify themselves and mark their gang’s "turf" or territory. They also use it to advertise the gang’s status or power and to declare their own allegiance to the gang. The graffiti may include the gang’s name, a member’s nickname, a declaration of loyalty, threats against rival gangs or a description of criminal acts in which the gang has been involved.Gangs frequently gather in dark areas to avoid being seen. In these locations they will often drink, use narcotics, and deface property with graffiti.

Clothing. The uniform of Hispanic gangs is standard and easily recognizable. Most gang members adopt a basic style that includes white t-shirts, thin belts, baggy pants with split cuffs, a black or blue knit cap (beanie) or a bandana tied around the forehead similar to a sweat band.Black gang members are individualistic in their dress. Black gangs tend to identify themselves by adopting certain colors. The "Crips" identify themselves with the colors of blue or black or a combination of the two. "Blood" gangs generally use red accessories, such as caps or bandanas, to identify themselves. While clothing alone cannot positively determine membership in a street gang, color and style serve to identify each gang. Green can either mean the gang member is declaring neutrality for the moment or is a drug dealer. Black is worn by some Hispanic gangs and Heavy Metal Anglo gangs.

Other common gang colors include brown or purple.Note: Some gangs are starting to change their clothing style by no longer wearing their colors in an effort to deceive law enforcement and conceal their gang affiliation. Gang clothing styles can be easily detected because of the specific way gang members wear their clothing. Examples are preferences for wearing baggy or "sagging" pants or having baseball caps turned at an angle. Gang members often prefer particular brands of shoes, pants or shirts. For example, some gangs like to wear plaid shirts in either blue, brown, black or red. These shirts are worn loosely and untucked.
Gang graffiti, symbols, messages or gang names can be written or embroidered on jackets, pants and baseball caps. Other identifying items include belt buckles with the gangs initials, key chains, starter jackets (team jackets), and red or blue bandannas commonly called "rags". Excessive amounts of dark clothing or a predominance of one-color outfits, white t-shirts and levis with upturned cuffs are also indicators of possible gang involvement.

Jewelry. May be expensive or cheap, but the gaudy type is preferred. Examples are heavy gold rope chains, earrings and other large rings.

Weapons. These can include shaven-down baseball bats, sections of pipe taped at the ends, spiked wrist bands, mace, knives, or semi-automatic firearms such as an "Uzi", "AK-47", or "MAC 10.

Other signs that youngsters may have joined gangs include crude and elaborate tattoos, females wearing heavy eye make-up and dark lipstick, fingernails painted a certain color, certain undergarments, gang-colored shoelaces in their athletic shoes and specific hairstyles (such as shaving their heads bald, hair nets, rollers or braids).

From:

LAPDonline.org