http://www.heraldsun.com/state/6-625730.html

Survey: Police aware of more gangs in N.C.
Jul 12, 2005 : 12:18 pm ET

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Police across North Carolina are aware of more gangs and members than five years ago and are doing more to combat them, according to a new study by the Gov.'s Crime Commission.

The study counted 387 gangs in the state with 8,517 members last year, up 68 percent when compared to police responses from a 1999 questionnaire. It's not clear how much those numbers signal a rise in gang membership and how much is attributed to police better recognizing gang activity.

Lt. Mark Bridgeman, head of the North Carolina Gang Investigator's Association, said the numbers are conservative.

"Some agencies don't track the data or don't realize they have a gang problem," he said. "And gang members don't check in with us when they join the gang. (They) don't check out with us when they leave."

More police agencies have responded to gang-related crimes -- which include vandalism, larceny, drug crimes and murder -- by creating special units, according to the study. In Shelby, police have assigned a detective to focus on gang investigations while deputies in Iredell County have begun tracking gang activity, including graffiti.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police -- covering an area that showed a jump from 15 reported gangs in 1999 to 65 last year -- has created a gang intelligence unit, educated its officers about recognizing members and started a prevention program. Gang detective Joel McNelly said he believes the increase in Charlotte's numbers is as much about gang members moving into the city as it is about better tracking.

In addition, the Rev. Fran Cook, who heads Charlotte-Mecklenburg's Gang of One program, said its prevention hot line that pairs young people with mentors has received 324 calls since its February 2004 start date.

Police in some Charlotte-area counties say the young people who call themselves gang members really aren't, but Bridgeman said any gang activity deserves attention.

"A wannabe is a gonna be," he said. "If they are out there committing acts of violence they already are."

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