Pubdate: Wed, 21 Jun 2006
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2006 The New York Times Company
Contact:  http://www.nytimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/298
Author: Gretchen Ruethling
Cited: Chicago Crime Commission http://www.chicagocrimecommission.org
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/gangs
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/topics/Chicago

CHICAGO GANGS MOVE TO SUBURBS, STUDY FINDS

CHICAGO -- Faced with the demolition of public housing projects used 
as hideouts and a crackdown by city police, Chicago street gangs are 
increasingly setting up shop in the suburbs, according to a report by 
the Chicago Crime Commission.

The 272-page report, released Monday, also found that Chicago area 
gangs were engaging in more white-collar crime and increasingly 
working with instead of against each other to make more money.

"It's a huge, significant problem which I would classify as our enemy 
within," said James W. Wagner, president of the commission, a 
nonprofit public safety organization that conducted the study as a 
training tool for law enforcement agencies and the public.

Mr. Wagner said he thought the report, titled "The Gang Book," was 
the first in the nation to comprehensively survey police departments 
about gang activity.

The report profiles 56 of the more than 70 gangs that have a total of 
more than 70,000 members in the Chicago area. It includes photographs 
of gang leaders, drawings of gang graffiti, maps of gang territory 
and a glossary of gang terms with more than 300 words and expressions.

Gang activity in the suburbs has been rising in some areas, the 
report found. Out of 81 suburban police departments that submitted 
responses for the report, 31 reported an increase in gang crime in 
the past three years.

The commission attributes this shift to the demise of inner city 
housing projects where gangs once operated, the gentrification of 
neighborhoods where gang activity was common and a crackdown on gangs 
by the Chicago police.

Suburban police departments frequently reported a lack of resources 
as being a main obstacle to tackling gang activity. "Most of the 
local departments are becoming frustrated," Mr. Wagner said.

But one suburban police chief questioned that claim and said he and 
his community had received a lot of support from local government, 
the state's attorney and a congressman to fight gangs.

"For my officers, I'm insulted because they are working their tails 
off and doing everything humanly possible and have been very, very 
successful," said William Biang, chief of police in Waukegan, a 
northern suburb. "These are the kinds of things that we work on 
tirelessly, and we get complete support from the community."

Mr. Biang also said he had seen a decrease in gang activity and crime 
in the past 10 years and said the report published inaccurate 
information about the number of gang members in his city. He said 
Waukegan had 1,488 known gang members, not 3,000 as the report listed.

Jeannette P. Tamayo, general counsel for the commission, said the 
Waukegan Police Department's gang unit reported the number in the 
survey submitted last year.

The report also found that while gangs still made most of their money 
from drugs, they were increasingly delving into money laundering, 
mortgage and real estate fraud, and identity theft.

For example, two gangs were involved in $70 million and $80 million 
mortgage fraud cases, and the Chicago police reported that several 
known gang members conducted fraud or money laundering activities 
from their own companies.

Gangs are also willing to work with each other for individual 
financial gain, the report found.

"In the past, loyalties amongst the members was stronger," Mr. Wagner 
said. "That loyalty no longer exists, and it's all about making money." 
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake