The assessment shows gangs are expanding, and not just in numbers. The report by the National Gang Intelligence Center shows gangs are evolving, and pose an increasing threat to communities across the nation.
Here's a list of the top five counties in the nation in terms of the number of gang members... Los Angeles is first, followed by Cook County, Illinois. San Bernardino is third. Fresno is listed as fourth, and Minneapolis is fifth.
Sheriff Mims is not shocked at the ranking. Chief Dyer has been keeping track of the trends. "Gangs are starting to form alliances for the purpose of facilitating drug trade and distribution of firearms. We are seeing more and more gang members that are behind prostitution, in terms of pimping and human trafficking."
Chief Dyer also points out that gang members have become more sophisticated in using the internet, and communicating crime via social media. It actually works in favor of police. "It's been very helpful in allowing us to make cases on gang members to recover firearms and to be able to validate gang members."
The Gang Intelligence Center reports there are nearly 1.5million gang members nation wide, comprising than 33,000 gangs.
TXT 24
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