Specialized Gang Units: Form and Function in Community Policing

Between 1980 and the mid-1990s, the number of specialized gang units in American law enforcement agencies appeared to increase substantially. The rise in specialized gang units coincided with the widespread adoption of community policing. In many ways, the increased number of gang units appeared inherently in conflict with the move to community- and problem-oriented policing, since the latter emphasizes decentralization and despecialization. This research examined whether community policing and specialized gang units are complementary or conflicting approaches, either in principle or practice. The research approach consisted of qualitative examination of police department procedures and practices, and extensive field observation of gang personnel. The research was conducted in two community policing agencies with gang units: Indianapolis, IN, and San Diego, CA. The project included extensive interviews with police leaders and other personnel in each agency to determine the rationale for gang-control policies. Over 500 hours of observation were conducted in the two sites of gang unit activities.

This report describes the missions and functions of the gang units in each jurisdiction and the specific types of activities engaged in by gang units-- documenting the time expended by gang unit personnel on each. The project compared and contrasted the two approaches, but the ultimate objective was to examine whether and how the tactics and strategies of the gang units fit with the community-oriented mission of the two police agencies. The results suggest that gang units can have an important role in modern policing. There is little evidence that specialized gang units conflict with community policing in principle or practice. The use of discriminate strategies and strategic approaches to gangs in both cities appears to reflect the influence of community and problem-oriented policing. Also reflecting the influence of community and problem-oriented policing are the agencies’ reliance on data and attention to the mechanisms through which police efforts could be expected to influence of crime and criminality.

READ ON
http://www.ncjrs.gov/pdffiles1/nij/grants/207204.pdf