Gang violence sparse locally

Local authorities believe gangs are more prevalent in metro areas.

By BOB GIBBINS

TAHLEQUAH DAILY PRESS — Local authorities believe an increase in gang violence in the state must be occurring in the metropolitan areas.

A representative of the Oklahoma City Police Department’s gang unit said violence among gang members is on the rise, and gang members are becoming more flagrant with their actions.

“We’ve had some vandalism where we know gang symbols have been painted on buildings,” Sheriff Norman Fisher said. “I can’t really think of a lot of violent activity.”

Fisher said one teenager who was charged last month with stabbing his father claimed gang membership. Jaycee Wilson, now 16, was charged as a youthful offender in connection with that incident.

Assistant District Attorney David Pierce agrees with Fisher that gang violence is more often heard about in more populous areas, like Oklahoma City and Tulsa. He said the Wilson case is the only that comes to mind.

“He [Wilson] was under the influence of something when he was making those statements,” Pierce said. “We have some problems around here, but I think we’ve been fortunate that we don’t have the problems they have in other areas of the state.”

Police Chief Steve Farmer said he and his officers have encountered minimal gang activity within the city limits.

“We’ve seen some wearing ‘colors’ and some vandalism we believe can be attributed to gangs,” he said.

“It seems a lot of what we see is gang members who come to Tahlequah from other areas.”

Farmer said TPD officers have been involved in a few incidents.

“We’re monitoring their known locations and identifying people we believe may have gang affiliations,” he said. “We’re also working with the other agencies in this area and the areas they’re coming in from.”

Oklahoma City Officer Tim Hock, speaking to police officers and others at a conference concerning violent crimes and terrorist threats, said the upswing in the number of gangs and gang members and the higher level of violence in the state and elsewhere pose a large domestic threat across the country, according to the Associated Press.

Hock told the AP there are between 6,000 and 7,000 members in Oklahoma City who have ties with six gangs, including some Hispanic gangs and others based on the West Coast. Hock estimated there are as many as 900,000 gang members in the U.S.

The most common gang activity is drug trafficking or other illegal actions, often leading to violence and drive-by shootings involving rival gangs as they battle for superiority in certain areas.

Hock told the AP authorities have also expressed concern about gang members joining the armed services, where they learn assault techniques they bring back to their gangs.