gang investigators' perceptions of military-trained gang members in the southeastern u.s
DESCRIPTION
This research study was designed to describe characteristics and perceptions of members of two Gang Investigators' Associations and to examine whether a relationship existed between the perceptions of gang investigators regarding the presence of MTGMs in their jurisdictions and the size of the gang investigators’ jurisdiction (i.e., county size, number of officers employed), the extent to which the gang investigators participate in anti-gang activities, the proximity of the gang investigators’ jurisdiction to a military installation (from survey and computed), time spent in anti-gang activities, age of investigator, and military installation size. The Military Gang Perception Questionnaire (MGPQ) (Smith, 2010), was used to address the goals of the study. A few of the questions paralleled a prior survey by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) (2007). The data and results of this study will be published and discussed elsewhere for academic and training purposes without openly identifying the source of information per an agreement between the author and the association board of directors. Presentation for 2011 Southern Criminal Justice Association Meeting, Nashville, TNTRANSCRIPT
Gang Investigators' Perceptionsof Military-Trained GangMembers in the Southeastern U.S.Southern Criminal Justice Association 2011
Carter F. Smith(615) 656-3505
The Problem•1 Million gang members in U.S.•80% of all crimes committed by gang members. •Progressive increase in adult gang members since 1996 (then 50-50).
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It’s important because
• All gang members in the military return to civilian communities . . . eventually.• Crimes by MTGMs up yearly since 2002.•MTGMs teach tactics to local gang members. •MTGMs commit murder, racketeering,
drug distribution.
Military Weapons
•Gang members with military weapons escalate threat. •Even soldiers with no clear ties to gangs make military weapons available to street gang members.
Military Weapons
December 2005, National Guard soldier sold several foreign-made machine guns to gun dealer in Georgia.
Unconventional Weapons
December 2008, former soldier in Oklahoma City, OK tried to sell IEDs to gang members for $100.00
Military Equipment
January 2007: SSG and CPT from Illinois National Guard tried to sell body armor, night-vision equipment, and Tasers thinking Chicago street gangs would use the equipment.
Suspected Gang-Related Investigations/Incidents
2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 20090
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40
60
80
100
120
ROI
Other
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Ft. Meade, MD (CID, 2009): Armed robbery at Burger King on post. Suspect family member linked to a local Bloods affiliate.
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Ft. Stewart, GA (CID, 2009): Soldier robbed at gunpoint in barracks room by 3 males wearing ski masks. •Numerous Folk tattoos and gang paraphernalia in room.
Ft. Wainwright, AK (CID, 2009): Soldier (Bloods) stabbed another off-post after victim stated no real gangs in Fairbanks.
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•Perceptions of gang investigators regarding presence of MTGMs.•Military Gang Perception Questionnaire•Active members of GIAs. •Level of perception of MTGMs.
Survey
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Research Questions
1. Size of jurisdiction
2. Participation in anti-gang activities
3. Proximity of gang investigators’ jurisdiction to a military installation
4. Anti-gang experience
5. Age
6. Race
7. Military experience
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Literature
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Literature Review1) traditional street gangs
2) differences between juvenile and adult
3) advanced organized crime groups
4) MTGMs
5) conflicting loyalties
6) methods used to restrict non-criminal activity
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Literature Review• Most MTGM investigations involve drug
trafficking.• Gang members in all military ranks.• Murder, racketeering, and drug distribution.• Conflicting loyalties explained by differential
identification (Glaser, 1956) and organizational commitment (Mowday et al., 1982). • Restrict with formal anti-gang teams, sections, and
task forces (NAGIA, 2005), injunctions (Grogger, 2005) and restrictive ordinances (Strosnider, 2002).
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Research & Findings
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Respondents•Majority local police •Majority no working relationship with military investigators •Most Caucasian•Minority served in military
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Relevant responses (MTGM presence)Strongly Disagree Disagree No opinion Agree StronglyAgree
4. Gang members in my jurisdiction use military or military-type
weapons. A/SA 50.5 38.2%
5. Gang members in my jurisdiction use military equipment.
D/SD 34.6 56.9%
6. Gang members in my jurisdiction use military-type tactics.
D/SD 38.6 46.5%
9. Gang leaders in my community demonstrate military training.
D/SD 32.7 36.8%
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Relevant responses (MTGM presence)
9. Gang leaders in my community demonstrate military training.
D/SD 32.7 36.8%
10. Some gang members in my jurisdiction have no ties to local
gangs. A/SA 43.6 72.6%
12. There are gang members in my jurisdiction currently in the
military. A/SA 36.6 D/SD 36.8%
13. There are gang members in my jurisdiction that served in the
military. A/SA 52.5 48.7%
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1. There are gangs in my jurisdiction. A/SA 97.1 92.4
2. A majority of the gang members in my jurisdiction are adults.
A/SA 33.7 40.2
3. Adult gang members are more dangerous than juveniles.
D/SD 75.3 53.4%
7. Gang members in my jurisdiction commit home invasions.
A/SA 87.1 77.6%
8. Gang members in my jurisdiction commit armed robberies.
A/SA 91.1 80.2%
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Strongly Disagree Disagree No opinion Agree Strongly Agree
11. Some of the gangs in my jurisdiction have ties to distant gangs.
A/SA 77.3 72.6%
14. Military-trained gang members pose more danger to police.
A/SA 86.2 83.1%
15. Active gang members should NOT be allowed to join the military.
A/SA 92.1 93.1
16. Anti-gang prohibitions are being used in my jurisdiction. A/SA 53.4 41.9%
17. Anti-gang prohibitions limit most gang activity in my jurisdiction.
A/SA 38.6 43.6%
18. Anti-gang prohibitions limit military-trained gang members. A/SA 39.6
47.6%
19. Military representatives advise when gang members discharged.
D/SD 61.4 82.2%
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Relationship between gang investigators’ perceptions of the presence of MTGMs in their jurisdictions and
1. Size of jurisdictions? Yes
2. Anti-gang activities? No
3. Proximity to military installation? Yes
4. Anti-gang experience? No
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•No relationship with age•No difference by race•No difference with military experience
How Big a deal is it?
Kaiserslautern, GE GDs 2005
• Death of Juwan L. Johnson in 2005 • Eight service members are
suspects.
• Investigators conclude that Johnson was beaten to death during a “jumping in” gang initiation ceremony.
linked to suspected Gangster Disciples
“I just don’t picture my son joining a gang” . . . “Does it make any sense that he would join a gang in Germany just weeks before he’s going to leave?”
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How Big a deal is it?
• The History of Gangs in the Military . . .• Jan 2008
How Big a deal is it?
• Infantry• Telecommunications • Paralegal • Military Police • Intelligence Analyst • Transportation • Logistics• Communications
• Medical• Intelligence and
Electronic Warfare • Psychological
Operations • Finance • Chemical Munitions • Explosive Ordnance• Recruiter
Gang members trained for these roles
How Big a deal is it?
• Weapons• Ammunition• Grenades• Night Vision Goggles• Ballistic Vests
Police: Same Man Robs 2 So. Fla. Burger Kings With AK-47
M4A1 Carbine
Gang members trained to use
In Mosul, a Battle 'Beyond Ruthless'
• Three cars stopped on the other side of the road. A man carrying a machine gun got out.
• "Take him down," Ruiz told a sniper . . . the man's head exploded.
• Ruiz said it reminds him of his youth as a member of the Coney Island Cobras, a Brooklyn street gang.
• He applies many of the principles he learned in the neighborhoods where he grew up.
• Acting swiftly, "sends a message to the enemy that we're not playing games. If you engage us, you are going to die.
Onetime Gang Member Applies Rules of Street
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How big a deal?Let’s look elsewhere, in a land (not so) far, far away . . .
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April 2011: U.S. State Department issued warnings advising
Americans to defer non-essential travel to large swaths of Mexico
due to the threat of armed robbery, carjacking, kidnapping and
murder by the Zetas.
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AND IF THAT’S NOT BAD ENOUGH . . .
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Recommendations
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Recommendations• Recommendations for government leaders • Compliance with Congressional instruction, uniform
definition, identify as STG
• Recommendations for military commanders• Acknowledge and address increase, tracking and analysis, all-
hands approach, evaluate for retention and security classification
• Recommendations for law enforcement• Use law enforcement to coordinate with recruiting, distinguish
between youth and adult gang activity, share successes
• Recommendations for future research• Conduct extended longitudinal examination, broaden
population while narrowing focus
Gangs and the Military
Carter F. Smith, JD, PhD
U.S. Army CID (Retired)
615-656-3505http://www.gangsinthemilitary.com