NCJ Number
212740
Journal
Police Chief Volume: 72 Issue: 12 Dated: December 2005 Pages: 64-68
Date Published
December 2005
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article describes Tucson's (Arizona) gang investigation method, which has been the most effective component of a three-pronged gang strategy that involves enforcement, intervention, and education.
Abstract
The Tucson Police Department's gang investigative method integrates three elements: intelligence, investigations, and tactical support. Strategic design for intelligence gathering includes the development of a comprehensive database that tracks all known gang members and associates. The Tucson database, which contains information on 3,100 gang members, is managed by a crime analyst. Most of the information in the database is obtained from field interviews and incident reports generated by officers and detectives. Computer-aided searches enable gang investigators to seek maximum prosecution for gang members who would otherwise slip through the cracks of the criminal justice system. Tucson gang detectives, who are specially trained and experienced in dealing with gang-related crime, investigate gang-related murders, aggravated assaults, robberies, and prohibited possessor cases. A crime is considered gang-related when an identified gang member is involved in the crime, not only when a crime appears to be gang-motivated. When properly investigated and prosecuted, these cases can significantly undermine the structure and activities of a criminal street gang. A tactical street squad supports daily enforcement and intelligence gathering on gang members. The officers in this unit are responsible for developing information sources on gang activity while providing constant police pressure on gangs. This squad identifies and tracks gang suspects responsible for robberies, assaults, and murders. 5 notes