Gang Units

A Gang Unit is defined as a specialized unit with at least two officers primarily assigned to handle matters related to criminal street gangs.

Approximately four in ten law enforcement agencies with a gang problem operated a gang unit in 2006, including 54 percent of larger cities.

With the exception of smaller cities, the percentage of agencies operating a gang unit increased yearly and was highest in 2006.

In 2006, 31 percent of law enforcement agencies with a gang problem that did not operate a gang unit reported that one or more officers were assigned to handle gang problems exclusively.

Source: National Gang Center

Note: *A value for rural counties for 2011 is not presented because insufficient data was reported.

FAQS ABOUT THIS CAREER

How big of a problem are gangs in the United States?
There are more than 33,000 street gangs with an estimated 1.4 million members across the country.

How many years of law enforcement experience is necessary before being promoted to gang detective?
Prospective officers should be prepared to work as a police officer or correctional officer (for corrections agencies) for between two and five years before being eligible to advance to the gang investigations unit.

How dangerous is it to work as a gang investigator?
As with any position in law enforcement, gang officers face numerous dangers from having their identity discovered by the gang they’re infiltrating to attacks from rival gang members. As a result, gang officers must be situationally aware at all times.

policies, procedures & forms

Upon official request, we can provide active duty officers and agencies (law enforcement and corrections) with assistance in developing gang unit policies, procedures, operational protocols, tactical search operation outlines, unit equipment suggestions, and officer selection process recommendations.

Current members of Gang Enforcement's Black Team One also has access to limited examples of this material within the gang enforcement resource digital library; The Armory.

GANG OFFICER DESCRIPTION

In general, a Gang Unit is developed to investigate gang-related crimes committed by members of criminal street gangs as defined by a state's definition and federal code. The Unit shall have the added responsibility of maintaining a working relationship with schools, social services agencies, community based organizations, and other criminal justice organizations in a systematic approach to the prevention, intervention and suppression of criminal gang activity.

Gang Enforcement Officer duties can include but not be limited to performing the following duties:

Monitor gang members and their activities
Develop intelligence assets that reveal gang objectives, resources and plans
Investigate gang-related crimes and apprehend perpetrators
Work with state, local and national law enforcement organizations to dismantle gangs
Seize weapons and narcotics from gangs
Rescue smuggled or enslaved persons
Assist with school related gang cases
Maintain a liaison with school officials and school security personnel
Provide student gang awareness presentations
Assist other investigative units with crimes assigned to them that involve gang members
Assist outside agencies with gang related criminal investigations.
Providing court testimony as a gang expert for other units in our department as well as outside agencies
Assist with training and gang awareness presentations
Maintaining current data on criminal gang activity and active gangs and gang members

Gang investigators are typically law enforcement and/or corrections professionals who have been specially trained to address the problems of gang activity within their jurisdictions. A Gang Officer may include but not be limited to:

Build relationships with gang members
Develop knowledge on gangs and gang members
Investigate criminal cases involving gang members
Testify in court
Visit schools to educate students about gangs

References:
1. Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/Protective-Service/Police-and-detectives.htm
2. Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes_nat.htm
3. Criminal Justice Degree Schools - How to Become a Gang Investigator

HOW TO BECOME A GANG OFFICER

The steps to becoming a Gang Enforcement Officer differ from agency to agency but in general they begin with joining a law enforcement or corrections department as a uniformed officer. Most agencies require candidates to have at least a high school diploma, but larger organizations may require an associate’s or bachelor’s degree. Candidates must also possess exceptional physical strength, stamina and dexterity. These abilities will be evaluated during the hiring process and while attending the police academy.

Once a job in an agency has been obtained, officers who wish to serve in a gang unit must serve a minimum of 2-3 years on the force before they are eligible to submit for a position within the gang unit. The challenges of gang enforcement usually prevent new recruits from joining a gang unit, but experienced patrol officers are usually able to serve without significant difficulty.

Most agencies will have an assessment/testing process to evaluate an officers knowledge, leadership qualities, physical and psychological conditioning. Other agencies will simply go by seniority, which is not recommended.

In larger police departments, gang unit investigators must first be promoted to the status of detective. This may require a review by senior officers or the successful passage of a detective’s exam. Once achieved, detectives may petition for a position with the gang unit. This is a very challenging assignment that many detectives are unwilling to take; so securing a position in the gang unit should be taken serious and provide you a sense of pride for successfully being assigned to one of the most dangerous positions in law enforcement.

Law enforcement officers generally earn promotions to the position of gang investigator. Seasoned gang detectives may advance to supervisory or administrative positions and work with local or state police or the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

GANG OFFICER TRAINING

Gang officers typically must learn the language of the gangs they will be working most in terms of both culture and gang symbolism, and must develop an intimate knowledge of gang disputes and territories. Gangs often communicate using pictures, acronyms, and even types of sign language, all of which a gang investigator must learn to effectively communicate with gang members. Investigators create dossiers, by interviewing and developing relationships with gang members, on individual gang members that can help solve the gang’s hierarchy of leadership. On-the-job training may be required, depending on the agency for which the gang officer works.

Initial as well as ongoing training and professional certification is essential and can often be completed online with minimal expense the officer and agency by attending the National Gang Academy and Gang Certifications provided by The Gang Enforcement Training Center, operated by The Gang Enforcement Company.

We recommend that gang unit training be broken into three distinct areas:

Gang Knowledge
Gang Intelligence, Enforcement and Reduction
Leadership Development

We recommend that Gang Knowledge cover, at minimum, these eight areas:

Gang History
Gang Evolution
Gang Migration
Gang Recruitment
Gang Crime
Gang Identification
Gang Typology
Gang Prevention Principles

We recommend that gang unit training Gang unit training also cover, at minimum, these personal development areas:

Physical Fitness Principles
Financial Wellness Principles
Human Motivation
Communication Skills

Training also involves developing a level of communication with known gang members so as to be able to gather information about the structure of gangs, members, and activities. Training also covers the critical role of identifying criminal gang activity and apprehending perpetrators.

SUBMIT YOUR UNIT

If your law enforcement, corrections and/or probation Gang Unit is not listed below;
please submit your information for inclusion.

GANG UNIT | GANG TASK FORCE | GANG ASSOCIATION PATCHES

Many gang units and task forces have designed their own logo, patch and/or coin to identify themselves. Some agencies have added their own "Kick Ass" flavor to their patches showing a little bit of attitude towards their mission of gang enforcement.

This gallery of patches showcases some of the patches and coins that we have acquired over the years. If you would like for your patch to be added to the gallery you can submit your photo to us or if you would like for your patch to be added to the Gang Enforcement Center's Patch Wall then you can mail your patch to us and we will include and send you one in return along with a photo of your patch on the patch wall.