Modesto: Gang Problem Growing

Unread post by **Christina Marie** » November 10th, 2005, 7:44 pm

Gang Problem Growing
High School Gang Problems
Madison
Updated: 6:37 PM Nov 10, 2005
Leigh Mills

There is a gang problem across our communities.

That's what police, county and school officials are saying.

Wednesday's fight at Madison Memorial was the latest gang-related incident in area schools.

Memorial High School Principal Bruce Dahmen says 2 groups were responsible for the clash, and he says it doesn't surprise him that the incident was related to gangs.

"We do know that not only our school but the community is dealing with some small gang activity and there are some rival groups that are having a difficult time adjusting," says Dahmen.

He says the 2 gangs are causing all of the recent problems at the school.

"They've been around for the last couple of years and they've been coming through the middle schools," says Dahmen, "It's less than one half of one percent of our population that is drawing the media to our school."

Dahmen says the problems occur during free time: in the hallway or the cafeteria.

But he says students have steady supervision with security guards and hall monitors on constant watch.

"We are going to deal with the issues and we are going to confront the issues and divvy out the consequences as needed."

Those consequences are listed in the school's handbook: If a student is acknowledging his or her gang participation at school, the student can be suspended for up to one day. If he or she becomes violent as a member of that group, then the student is suspended and could be expelled if the behavior continues.

Jared Lewis, a former Modesto, California police officer, moved to Jefferson, Wisconsin to shed light on the violence and victims of gangs.

"The biggest trend we're seeing right now is smaller communities are seeing an influx in gang membership but many of these communities don't recognize it until it's too late," says Lewis.

But Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk says she recognizes that gangs are a growing county-wide problem.

"It's growing in the kind of violence the gang members are doing, it's growing in that it's now attracting more and more girls and its attracting younger and younger children," says Falk, "It's a problem that we are working hard to change."

"I look at it as a blip on the screen right now," adds Dahmen, "And we will continue to do the things with our staff and students that we do to continue this school being the school of excellence and a safe place for all."

Dahmen wouldn't name which gangs are responsible for the recent rise in violence.

But he says in talking with students, while they are concerned, they're not concerned for their safety.

http://nbc15.madison.com/news/headlines/1852196.html

Unread post by **Christina Marie** » November 10th, 2005, 7:47 pm

Wonder why he would'nt name them? Maybe just purely to deny them notoriety?

Unread post by **Mexican:.805** » November 10th, 2005, 9:23 pm

the gangs are the NORTENOS and SURENOS no doubt, they having prolems in modest0

Unread post by **Christina Marie** » November 10th, 2005, 9:26 pm

Mexican:.805 wrote:the gangs are the NORTENOS and SURENOS no doubt, they having prolems in modest0

Well ya...thats a given.

anonymousman · Unread post by **anonymousman** » November 13th, 2005, 2:54 pm

what part of modesto is that school located at? memorial??