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In January
2004, the Sheboygan Police Department Gang Unit was upgraded to the Street
Crimes Unit. The need for expanding the scope of the Unit was due to
the ever-changing atmosphere and mode of operations of criminal elements
within the City of Sheboygan. The officers assigned to the Unit do not
only concentrate on gang activity but also specialize in investigating
property crimes (theft, burglary, graffiti, etc.), violent crime (robbery,
assaults, etc.), and narcotic offenses. These highly trained officers
gather intelligence, perform undercover operations, and execute search
warrants in order to combat crime.
The Unit
frequently networks with outside agencies and recently joined forces with
the federal U.S. Marshal's Task Force. The "deputized" officers work
closely with federal agents in order to locate wanted fugitives. The
Unit was instrumental in incorporating :Sheboygan County's Top Ten Most
Wanted" list that is published in the Plymouth Review and on this website.
This endeavor has met with much success in apprehending wanted fugitives and
could not be done without the public's involvement.
The Unit
recognizes the need for community involvement in order to "take back the
streets" and encourages anyone with information on criminal activity to
contact the Street Crimes Unit. The Unit is available for public
presentations that concentrate on educating the public on gang activity and
answering questions about criminal activity in a neighborhood.
The Sheboygan
Police Department Street Crimes Unit is supervised by Lieutenant Scott
Mittelstadt and is staffed by:
Officer Brian
Retzer, (920) 459-0267
brian.retzer@ci.sheboygan.wi.us
Officer Mike Stelter, (920) 459-0267
michael.stelter@ci.sheboygan.wi.us
Officer Charlet Endsley, (920)
459-0234
charlet.endsley@ci.sheboygan.wi.us
Supervisor, Lt. Scott Mittelstadt, (920) 459-5105
scott.mittelstadt@ci.sheboygan.wi.us
Any
information provided to the Street Crimes Unit is confidential.
GANGS -
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is a Gang?
Street Gang membership encompasses all races from a variety of socioeconomic
levels and is not limited to larger cities. Active prevention is now
required virtually from the start of a child's entry into the school system.
A street gang is a group or association of three or more persons who may
have a common identifying sign, symbol or name, and who individually or
collectively engage in criminal activity.
What is Gang Activity?
Activities that gangs are involved in include fighting, vandalism, graffiti,
armed robbery, weapon offenses, auto theft and drug dealing. Criminal
Activity is usually committed by gang members to monetarily benefit the gang
or an individual member.
What's a Gang Structure?
Peer pressure plays an important role in a decision to join a gang.
Gang members come from all walks of life. Some gang members have
relatives who belong to a gang. Gang members are placed in the
following categories:
-
"Leaders"
- are usually the oldest members with extensive criminal backgrounds.
They direct the activities and recruitment of gang members. Most
of the high ranking officers in the gangs come from source cities, such
as Chicago.
"Hard-core members" - are usually the most violent
members of the gang with criminal backgrounds. They generally
commit the more serious crimes and are behind the drug dealing trade for
the gang. They intimidate the younger members of the gang and show
them what is required to display loyalty to the gang.
"Fringe or marginal members" - are usually the youngest
and newest members of the gang with little criminal background.
They may have joined the gang or are thinking about joining. They
may only be involved temporarily, on a limited basis, or they may
progress into hard-core members.
What are Common Identifiers?
Gang members use graffiti, hand signs, jewelry, tattoos, clothing and
colors to signify their membership in a gang and to communicate their
gang affiliation to others. Each gang has its own unique graffiti,
signs and colors.
Hand Signs- are used to communicate within
the gang and as a challenge to rival gangs. The signs are made by
forming letters and/or numbers with fingers.
Tattoos - are used to mark ones body as an identifier
indicating membership in a particular gang. The tattoos can
include the name, initials, street of origin, or symbols of a gang.
Colors - Most gangs have particular colors that
they use to identify themselves. Many of the gang members will
frequently dress in these colors.
Clothing- Some gangs use particular sports team
clothing to represent their gang by picking a team that uses the
particular colors associated with the gang. They may also pick out
a teams clothing because of the symbol represented by that team, such as
the five pointed star used by the Dallas Cowboys. **Note: The
wearing of particular items of clothing should not be used alone as an
indication of gang involvement. Current clothing style imitate
gang membership.
Jewelry - Gangs are usually divided into two
groups, the folks and peoples. Jewelry with a six pointed star may
indicate a membership with a gang related to the folks, while a five
point star is associated with peoples.
Street Names- Members of gangs use street-names
with each other. They are used to conceal identification from law
enforcement.
What are Signs of Possible Gang Involvement?
1. Baseball caps worn distinctively to the left or the right.
2. Tattoos of stars, pitchforks, or unexplained symbols.
3. Jewelry, including rings, earrings, and necklaces with nicknames,
stars, pitchforks or unexplained initials or symbols.
4. Money from an unexplained source.
5. Certain clothing with particular colors and sport team
identification which are the only type a child will wear.
6. New friends that parents are not acquainted with and whom they
are not allowed to meet.
7. Unexplained signs and symbols on books, folders, clothes, bedroom
walls and personal belongings.
8. Truancy, poor progress or failing in school.
9. Frequent negative contacts with police.
What is Graffiti?
Gang members mark their territory with graffiti, similar to the way an
animal marks its territory, however gang members do it by making pictures
such as pitch forks, initials and symbols. The markings can range from
simple to elaborate. Typically graffiti is used to warn competing
gangs that there is a threat of takeover. It
is essential to remove graffiti as soon as possible.
Business and property owners should be made aware of graffiti and encouraged
to remove it as soon as possible after it has been reported to your local
law enforcement agency.
What Can You Do If You Suspect Your Child Is
Involved In a Gang?
1. Don't ignore your suspicions, talk to your child.
2. Watch for some of the signs mentioned previously.
3. Listen to conversations your child has with friends.
4. Check your child's room periodically for signs and symbols.
5. Talk to your child's teachers about your suspicions.
6. Divert your child's attention away from friends unknown to you or
you mistrust and into other activities.
7. Ask for help from the many community agencies.
8. Call the Street Crimes Unit. We will respond to your
questions.
(***Do not think that a gang is just a phase. Older gang members use
newer members by having them take most of the risk. Large quantities
of drugs have been found on newer members, while older members refuse to
associate with them when they get caught.
What Can You Do To Help Eliminate Gang
Activity?
1. Report all crimes and gang activity to the police immediately.
2. Identify any suspects to the police, as well as any street names.
Remember information can be kept confidential.
3. Remember that we cannot do the job alone and we need the help of
those in the community. |
