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Home My WebLink AboutIR 8529 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8529 T9 Date: 9/23/03 r r To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 1 of 4 it SUBJECT: Gang Crime Update PURPOSE The purpose of this informal report is to update the City Council on the current status of gang crime as requested during the August 26, 2003 Precouncil meeting. GANG-RELATED PART I CRIME STATISTICS Gang-related Part 1 Crime 250 200 ll,l 100 �j 50 1i 0 �- 1998/1999 1999/2000 2000/2001 2001/2002 2002/2003` October-August ANALYSIS OF FY 02/03 GANG-RELATED CRIME Offense Type FY 02/03 (act-Aug) OFFENSE TOTAL % of TOTAL Murder 3 3 Agg. Assault 75 73 Sexual Assault 0 0 Robbery 9 9 Theft/Burglary Vehicle 6 6 Burglary 7 7 Auto Theft 2 2 TOTAL 102 100 ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8529 1 Date: 9123103 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 2 of 4 x. gar SUBJECT: Gang Crime Update Note: The recent disturbing information concerning possible shots being fired at elementary schools was thoroughly investigated. A review of offense reports did not substantiate this occurrence. Furthermore, an analysis of the broken windows on T. A. Sims Elementary School revealed that rocks as opposed to firearm projectiles broke the windows. The following chart illustrates gang crime by council district for the first eleven months of this fiscal year. Council District 2 carries the largest share of such offenses, with over a third of the total occurring in this district. Council Districts 5, 8, and 9 combined contain about half of all the offenses. Minimal gang activity is seen in Council Districts 3, 4, 6, and 7. PART 1 GANG CRIME BY COUNCIL DISTRICT FY 2002/2003 October-Au gust) COUNCIL DISTRICT Offenses % of total 2 38 37 3 2 2 4 8 8 5 16 15 6 3 3 7 1 1 8 17 17 9 1 17 17 TOTAL 94 100% POTENTIAL REASONS FOR UPSURGE Gang crime was on the rise during the last full quarter and continued its rise through August. The following are reasons believed to be the cause or part of the driving force in this increase: • Violent gang members convicted during the heavy enforcement action in the 1990's are becoming eligible for parole and are being released back into our community. At this time it appears that increased release has strengthened bonds between Fort Worth gangs and prison gangs. Recruitment appears to be on the rise as a result of these intensified ties. • Mid-level gangs are moving aggressively into narcotic distribution arenas previously controlled by the higher level gangs. This has been the primary impetus for gang-on-gang violence during the last quarter. ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 8529 Date: 9/23/03 r To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Q Page 3 of 4 rex SUBJECT: Gang Crime Update • Lower level gangs, previously viewed as nothing more than "fringe" gangs, are increasing their level of violent interactions with rival gang factions. GANG MEMBER DATABASE Currently, 610 subjects are listed in the gang file. 208 of those were considered "active" during 2002. Thus far in 2003, 199 have been active. "Active" is defined as contact with law enforcement through an arrest, a field interview by patrol or gang officers, or listing as a suspect on a gang- related offense report. Individuals are considered inactive if, after two years for juveniles and three years for adults, they have had no contact with law enforcement that would indicate continuation of criminal behaviors. PAROLEES r l ng the past two years (primarily the last twelve months) an alarming number of hard-core gang members have been returned to Fort Worth from prison. The number of parolees and corresponding gang affiliation for this time period is as follows: • Aryan Brotherhood of Texas 50 • Mexican Mafia 16 • Aryan Circle 37 • Razza Unida 13 • Barrio Azteca 6 • Chicano Brotherhood 2 • Bloods 15 • Texas Mafia 8 • Crips 74 • Texas Syndicate 32 • Hermanos Pistolaros 5 TOTAL 258 The above numbers do not include members with other gang affiliations. Currently, approximately 5,885 persons are on parole in Tarrant County. 3,749 parolees reside in Fort Worth. It is not known how many of these are active gang members; however, of the last released 400 names from TDC parole, 10% were in the gang file. The following illustration points to the significance of these past offenders. In the month of June, there were numerous shootings between the Aggland Crips and 4X3 Crips, to include a homicide. 90% of the 22 direct participants in that incident were ex-convicts or recently released parolees. PROACTIVE ENFORCEMENT TECHNIQUES � sentiy, the Gang Unit is employing several proactive techniques to stem criminal street gang activity: ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS ~ INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS N o. 8529 Date: 9/23/03 To the Mayor and Members of the City Council Page 4 of 4 SUBJECT: Gang Crime Update Recent development and dissemination to patrol officers of the new Top Ten Most Active Gang Members list. This information enhances the continual communication flow with other sections of the police department. Monthly Gang Forums continue, providing a venue where various trends and activities are discussed with School Security Initiative officers, detectives, and patrol officers. Close working relationship with the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, Federal and Tarrant Parole/Probation and Project Spotlight to identify and track documented gang members being released to Fort Worth. This relationship enables officers to be notified immediately when a probationer or parolee is in violation. In turn, the officers are in a more advantageous position to locate the offender and incarcerate him/her without delay, thus 000M*1 removing the threat considerably quicker than in the past. Continue to stress communication with School Security Initiative officers to identify and classify gang members in -the schools. Utilization of the Strategic Operation Fund that facilitates flexibility in scheduling when responding to spikes in criminal gang activity. CONCLUSION The Fort Worth Police Department's Gang Unit continues to aggressively investigate all gang offenses, including the on-scene response to incidents and an uncompromising approach to investigations. Additionally, the officers continue to gather intelligence on rival gang factions and through anticipation of potential gang movement, attempt to place existing resources in areas of likely conflict. Captain Rick Reflogal can be contacted at 817.850.0106 should you have additional comments or concerns. City Manager ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS `