GANG TASK FORCE FORMED

The FBI and other law enforcement agencies are joining together to combat
escalated gang activity in Oakland County.

The FBI says the Michigan State Police, state Department of Corrections
and Oakland County Sheriff's Office -- as well as police departments from
Pontiac, Waterford Township, Auburn Hills and Bloomfield Township -- are
working together on targeting violent crime enterprises.

The federal agencies involved in the Oakland County Violent Gang Task
Force include the Drug Enforcement Administration, Immigration and Customs
Enforcement and the FBI.

The Oakland County Prosecutor's Office and the U.S. Attorney's Office are
also providing support to the effort.

The task force will be housed in one of the buildings operated by the
Oakland County Sheriff's Office.

"We are just at the stages of formation," said Sandra Berchtold,
spokeswoman for the FBI, adding that much about the task force isn't
public information.

"We aren't targeting one particular community," she said.

Oakland County Sheriff Mike Bouchard said the task force is very much in
the operational phase for what will be an in-depth joint operation.

The types of activity involved in busting up the criminal operations will
vary, as will the types of crimes being targeted, he said.

All of the agencies are bringing something to the table, with the FBI
providing some of the funding, Bouchard said.

"I think a lot of the public doesn't see or know what a gang is or what
they do," he said, adding these operations are heavily involved in the
drug trade and violent crimes committed.

"Obviously this is where we are hoping to make our impact, to reduce those
kinds of things in the community."

While the FBI already operates with agencies in Wayne County in a task
force fashion, it is unknown if this effort will be similar.

Bouchard said he believes it will be more tailored to Oakland County and
is optimistic about taking down gangs before they become far more
sophisticated in their criminal efforts.

"We don't want to allow it to take hold and become more organized," he
said. "Now is the time to detect and dismantle."