|
Gang-related activity on rise |
|
|
Monday, 09 June 2008 |
|
By Mike Gervais
Register Staff 6-7-2008 Ominous gang signs and tags have been sprouting up throughout Bishop in recent weeks, prompting the police department to begin looking at what can be construed as gang activity, dress and behavior.
Sometime Monday night in the early hours of the morning Tuesday, one or more individuals painted the tag MMS13 in several different locations throughout Bishop.
Local law enforcement officers have long been aware of the increasing trend of youngsters in Bishop wearing “gang related” attire, but with the recent vandalism, police officers are reaching out to the community, hoping to make residents aware of the problem.
“We need to let everyone know that this is gang-related,” said Bishop Police Detective Dave Jepson.
The MMS13 tag that was apparently put up at several different locations earlier this week is a reference to a Mexican gang. The tag means “Malditos Mexicanos Surenos.”
Jepson believes the tags are related to gangs from the Los Angeles area.
“I think what you’re dealing with aren’t actually gang members. It’s in the emulation stage or the apprentice stage,” Jepson said. “It’s coming up from down there.”
According to the police department, the appearance of gang-related activity in the Eastern Sierra has been a progression. “First they started dressing like it, now they’re tagging around town,” Jepson said. “It started with Sharpie markers on street signs, now they’re tagging three-foot letters on buildings and houses,” he said.
Jepson said that the police department isn’t claiming that Bishop, or any Eastern Sierra community, is being overrun by gang members. “This is not an indictment of every kid in town,” he said. “It’s just a few knuckleheads, and we’re going to ID these folks.”
But, he said that vandalism is a problem. “We’re not going to have that,” he said.
In order to curb would-be, or wannabe, gang members, the Bishop Police Department is planning to continue with its enforcement of curfew laws for minors, and also step up enforcement of laws designed to curb vandalism.
For instance, the department is hoping to keep materials that can be used for vandalism out of the hands of minors. Currently, it is illegal for any minor to carry a spray paint can, Jepson said, and local law enforcement authorities are going to continue to enforce that law.
Though none of the graffiti that cropped up in Bishop this week resulted in significant monetary damages, Jepson said that any vandalism that results in $400 or more in damages is a felony.
He also said Bishop Union High School is cracking down on what can be considered gang attire, such as some baseball caps, bandanas and black gloves.
Anyone who witnesses an individual vandalizing city or private property is encouraged to contact the Bishop Police Department at (760) 873-5866
|
|
Last Updated ( Wednesday, 09 July 2008 )
|
