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SOME LA GANGS REACH A TRUCE
La Opinion - Some neighborhoods in Southern California are experiencing a kind of truce between rival gangs that used to fight each other.
The decrease in gang violence in recent years has led some experts to theorize that gangs are now working together.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Los Angeles told La Opinion that although they are not investigating a particular case of collaboration between rival gangs, they are aware of a trend in which gangs of different ethnicities are working together.
"We know Latino gangs are working with African-American gangs to get drugs or arms, and we are already doing intelligence work," said Robert Clark, special agent with the FBI's Criminal Division. "It's a trend we are seeing among different groups. And I think if they see an opportunity to collaborate across these barriers, they're going to take it," he added.
Although the LAPD media department said they had not heard of gangs working together, Deputy Chief Michael Moore told La Opinion that they have started to see a "blend" among rival gangs.
"I'm not surprised. The purpose of gangs is to make money," he said. "And although it's something we hadn't seen before, I can tell you that we're aware of it.". . .
Robert Lyons, a detective who has worked for years in the gang division of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and who did not return calls from La Opinion before the close of business, told the Wall Street Journal that rival gangs like the Bloods and the Crips in South Central Los Angeles had joined together in criminal enterprises.
"They were talking to each other. There were hugs and handshakes. It was incredible," said Lyons. "Now, instead of having 200 arch enemies fighting against another 200, you have 400 working together against law enforcement agents," he said. . .
There are an estimated 41,000 gang members in the city according to the LAPD, and 85,000 in the county according to a report by the California Gang Outreach Committee. . .
The decrease in gang violence in recent years has led some experts to theorize that gangs are now working together.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation in Los Angeles told La Opinion that although they are not investigating a particular case of collaboration between rival gangs, they are aware of a trend in which gangs of different ethnicities are working together.
"We know Latino gangs are working with African-American gangs to get drugs or arms, and we are already doing intelligence work," said Robert Clark, special agent with the FBI's Criminal Division. "It's a trend we are seeing among different groups. And I think if they see an opportunity to collaborate across these barriers, they're going to take it," he added.
Although the LAPD media department said they had not heard of gangs working together, Deputy Chief Michael Moore told La Opinion that they have started to see a "blend" among rival gangs.
"I'm not surprised. The purpose of gangs is to make money," he said. "And although it's something we hadn't seen before, I can tell you that we're aware of it.". . .
Robert Lyons, a detective who has worked for years in the gang division of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and who did not return calls from La Opinion before the close of business, told the Wall Street Journal that rival gangs like the Bloods and the Crips in South Central Los Angeles had joined together in criminal enterprises.
"They were talking to each other. There were hugs and handshakes. It was incredible," said Lyons. "Now, instead of having 200 arch enemies fighting against another 200, you have 400 working together against law enforcement agents," he said. . .
There are an estimated 41,000 gang members in the city according to the LAPD, and 85,000 in the county according to a report by the California Gang Outreach Committee. . .
Labels: GANGS
2 Comments:
"'The purpose of gangs is to make money,' he said."
The gangs should be commended for their adherence to capitalist values.
Crime is merely the reflection of the larger society.
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