POLICE COMBATING THE GRIP OF GANGS

Fort Pierce Police Have a New Full-Time Intelligence Analyst to Compile a
Monthly List of "Hot Spots" -- Areas Where Gang Activity Has Been a Problem
- -- for Police to Check On.

FORT PIERCE -- The ongoing war against street gangs could be won by a
person behind a desk.

Fort Pierce police have a new full-time intelligence analyst who compiles
information on gangs around the county and makes the information available
to officers on the street.

That's good news to the department's Gang Task Force, a collection of
officers and detectives who periodically sweep the city targeting gangs and
drugs. All too often, the two are inseparable, said Lt. Frank Amandro, who
runs the task force.

"Our gang problem is so interwoven with narcotics and street crimes,"
Amandro said on a recent Saturday night. "Most of our gangs are tied to
narcotic sales."

The new position, which began in October, is coming at a time when several
recent violent incidents have been linked to gang activity.

An April 15 shooting that wounded a 13-year-old girl was sparked by the
refusal of two men to join the 13th Street Gang, according to police. The
Feb. 12 shooting death of Ilerant Utilien was reportedly part of an
initiation into that same gang.

On a recent Saturday night, Amandro drove around the city in a patrol car,
while members of the task force moved in unmarked cars. They drove through
neighborhood hangouts where gang members like to go, stopped by areas where
drug sales are often in the open and kept an eye out for trouble.

The analyst is able to compile a monthly list of "hot spots" -- areas where
gang activity has been a problem -- for police to check on. In the past,
officers were often behind the times when it came to the city's gangs,
Amandro said.

"We were more reactive than proactive," he said.

Early that evening, detectives stopped by a house on Avenue G that had been
a problem spot for drugs, Amandro said.

Detectives James Babcock and Eric Pierre-Jerome, members of the task force,
are familiar faces in the area.

Acting on a tip, they begin searching palm trees beside a house, looking
for bags of marijuana or small cigar or glue tubes traditionally used to
hold crack cocaine.

"Babcock, y'all stop that man," said one resident, watching Babcock search
the trees. "Y'all look like a bunch of fools."

Drug dealers often hide their stash and officers arrive trying to find it,
like an elaborate game of hide and seek.

"We only get a small percentage of what's out there," Amandro said.

STOPPING GANGS

It is estimated that about 30 gangs with hundreds of members call St. Lucie
County home. Linking someone to a gang isn't a simple process, though,
Amandro said.

State law requires police to establish firmly, through several incidents,
that a person is an active part of a gang. One of the jobs of the
intelligence analyst is helping to make that case by keeping careful record
of who does what, he said.

"The state statute is very specific on when we can label someone a gang
member," Amandro said. "We're trying to keep within the statute."

When a major crime, such as a shooting, happens, police have a database of
information to pull from. If the suspect is a known gang member, police
will likely have a list of his friends, family, vehicles and favorite hangouts.

Eventually, officers on the street will be able to access the gang database
from laptop computers.

Driving through the city, Amandro is quick to point out graffiti and other
markings that show specific gang territories. The marks can be like a
bulletin board -- even giving clues to feuds, such as ongoing disputes
between the 13th Street and 29th Street Gangs.

Some of the gangs are tied to state and national groups, such as the
Miami-based gangs Zoe Pound and Vatos Locos. The death of Kenneth Augusta
Mills Jr. on Nov. 15 last year was linked to Jackson Vernelus, 24, who
police said was a member of the Zoe Pound gang.

Meanwhile, the St. Lucie County Sheriff's Office continues to collect
information on gangs through its school resource deputies. They also offer
drug resistance programs, like DARE and GREAT, which specifically deal with
gangs.

"You want to get them before eighth grade," said Sheriff Ken Mascara. "The
message for both of those is to keep yourself away from drugs, keep
yourself away from gangs."

Educating parents can be just as important as reaching kids.

The Rev. Robert Coleman, pastor of Goodwill Presbyterian Church in Fort
Pierce, recently hosted a version of the sheriff's office GREAT program
aimed at families.

"That very first night, we realized there is a lack of communication
between parents and kids to a great extent," Coleman said. "As the program
progressed along, we got the parents and kids talking together, especially
about gangs."

As many of the city's gang members are in their teens, reaching future
generations is an important task, police said. If children aren't occupied
or supervised, the temptations of gang life could be calling.

"Kids typically fill that void with something," Amandro said.

SIGNS KIDS MIGHT BE INVOLVED IN GANGS:

* Poor progress or achievement in school * Truancy * Lack of hobbies or too
much leisure time * Drawing gang insignias/symbols * Problems at home

TIPS FOR PARENTS TO KEEP KIDS FROM GANGS:

* Know your children's friends * Become involved with them and occupy their
time * Be very suspicious of gang writing, graffiti, or tattoos * Learn
about gangs and drugs * Participate in your child's education -- find out
what's happening at school * Set the example for your kids -- they will do
what you do * Believe in your young person

SOURCE: Gang and Security Threat Group Awareness, The Florida Department of
Corrections