OKC profiled on History Channel's "Gangland"...

[gracefor24]

The South Side Locos were profiled. Pretty interesting stuff. They focused quite a bit on the shooting at Crossroads Mall. I know it's not necessarily what we want everyone to see about our city but I'm glad people will be aware of what's going on. Many in our city are in pretty big denial about our gang problems. Maybe this will spur some more discussion.

[OUGrad05]

The South Side Locos were profiled. Pretty interesting stuff. They focused quite a bit on the shooting at Crossroads Mall. I know it's not necessarily what we want everyone to see about our city but I'm glad people will be aware of what's going on. Many in our city are in pretty big denial about our gang problems. Maybe this will spur some more discussion.

Gang problems in OKC are terrible, have been for two plus decades, it would be nice if people would wake up to that fact.

[gracefor24]

Gang problems in OKC are terrible, have been for two plus decades, it would be nice if people would wake up to that fact.

I'm surprised the PD went on the show. They are typically slow to call anything gang violence and don't like to highlight these facts. They did give some props to the good work of the Gang Unit. The problem is 12 guys don't have much of a chance against estimated 4,000 gang members.

[BoulderSooner]

Gang problems in OKC are terrible, have been for two plus decades, it would be nice if people would wake up to that fact.

Terrible would be a little bit of a stretch

[OUGrad05]

Terrible would be a little bit of a stretch

No it isn't, I have family that was ocpd gang enforcement and did national talks on gangs, OKC is bad, not the worst but pretty bad...

[MikeOKC]

Why tiptoe around the facts? I certainly did for YEARS as a cultural lefty. Those days are over after personal experience and heavy-duty research. So, I'll say it like it is and call me a "racist" all some of you want: This is a BLACK and HISPANIC problem which, of course, impacts all of us. Are there whites in gangs? Yes. A tiny, tiny number.
This is a cultural war. They fight each other on weekends and they ALL prey on white people, and destroy our neighborhoods, during the week. Somebody has to say it.

[MikeOKC]

Before somebody asks...


Department of Justice chart.
http://ojjdp.ncjrs.gov - Survey Results: Gang member demographics, Race/Ethnicity

Most white gangs are rural and many times hispanics are counted as whites. The actual percentage according to DOJ estimates is around 4% white gang membership. The 14% is a weighted average. You can read more at the link or just Google this stuff. There's no denying this. There's also no putting on a pretty face for "diversity" or "multiculturalism" purposes. Ask California how diversity's working out.

[Bunty]

Gang problems in OKC are terrible, have been for two plus decades, it would be nice if people would wake up to that fact.

So legalize illegal drugs like marijuana and gangs will be considerably weakened. After all, they don't fight each other over selling something legal like alcohol.

[Spartan]

The gang graffiti on the south side isn't just on every available wall of hospitals, businesses, and offices.. now there's literally graffiti all over people's homes that are along busy roads.

[adaniel]

Yeah I saw the episode tonight (It on right now if anyone is interested). I definitely agree that while OKC isn't Watts or Southeast Houston in terms of gang levels, there is a pretty heightened level here for a city of our size. It would be shortsided to say that the booming hispanic population this area has seen in the past decade as a culprit. OKC is a huge trafficking point for drugs coming out of TX and CA on I35 and I40 respectively, and gangs have been fighting for control of it since the 70's.

I'm not familiar with issues on the southside, but I will say on my way to work on NW 10th street I've definitely noticed a lot of tagging lately, especially between 44 and Western. Are the gangs starting to migrate north now?

[native405]

yeah i saw the episode tonight (it on right now if anyone is interested). I definitely agree that while okc isn't watts or southeast houston in terms of gang levels, there is a pretty heightened level here for a city of our size. It would be shortsided to say that the booming hispanic population this area has seen in the past decade as a culprit. Okc is a huge trafficking point for drugs coming out of tx and ca on i35 and i40 respectively, and gangs have been fighting for control of it since the 70's.

I'm not familiar with issues on the southside, but i will say on my way to work on nw 10th street i've definitely noticed a lot of tagging lately, especially between 44 and western. Are the gangs starting to migrate north now?

the hispanic population is not the culprit . I have lived on the southside of oklahoma city all my live and gangs have been here way befor hispanic where here.

[hipsterdoofus]

the hispanic population is not the culprit . I have lived on the southside of oklahoma city all my live and gangs have been here way befor hispanic where here.

If you read what he said, I believe he said that they are NOT the culprit, but rather the fact that OKC is a major crossroads.

[LakeEffect]

the hispanic population is not the culprit . I have lived on the southside of oklahoma city all my live and gangs have been here way befor hispanic where here.

Here's where we get into semantics. The Hispanic population is not all gang members, but a majority of the gang members are (statistically) Hispanic.

Being Hispanic won't make you a gang member... it should give people cause to wonder why there is such a high rate of gang activity within Hispanic and African-American cultures. What can we do to make them feel as though they are worthwhile and belong without having to be in a gang?

[MGE1977]

This thread has taken a turn for the worst.

Whites the minority by the turn of the century? Seriously? This is just ignorant. Who cares?

I've been a minority for the majority of my life, (growing up in Albuquerque - you need a separate phone book practically just for the Garcia, Sanchez, Griego, Romero etc. entries.)

Do some of you feel that this will impact the United States, or Oklahoma City for that matter? These people have come here for the very same reasons that many of our culturally diverse ancestors did - betterment not just of self, but for future generations. Does it seem practical that their values are so dramatically different than one's own that they will change the American way of life, anywhere? More likely for them to assimilate I would propose.

As a matter of fact, in my line of work, many of the most pleasant and respectful people to work for are those minorities, while in contrast some of the most slovenly indolent wastes of space are in the "majority" of Oklahoman culture thus far.

Whether or not the majority of gang members are of black/hispanic backgrounds is irrelevant. As stated in a previous post, gangs are epidemic, and have been since the first immigrants came across.

I take issue with the misuse of this forum for comments made in previous posts which speak to race as the causitive agent for gangs. Desperation, and protection are the impetus. Gang units acrossed the nation and in OKC are highly skilled and tactically responsible groups that enforce law, while giving wide birth to cultural differences and respectful communication with gang affiliates.

It is ridiculous to blame race for gangs, regardless of statistics. It would be similarly ridiculous to blame the abuse of prescription drugs in high school and college populations on white kids. People do what they due for bad reasons, sometimes peculiar reasons, and though statistically numbers point to classes or races, the fact remains that it is situational influences which determine these points.

[soonerguru]

They're rerunning it right now and I'm tuned in.

This show seems to exaggerate -- and glamorize -- the gangs on the Southside. This is just the kind of pub these gangs want to strengthen their rep. Thanks a lot, History Channel.

On a lighter note, I'm getting a kick out of how the narrator calls OKC "The OKC."

[flippity]

They're rerunning it right now and I'm tuned in.

This show seems to exaggerate -- and glamorize -- the gangs on the Southside. This is just the kind of pub these gangs want to strengthen their rep. Thanks a lot, History Channel.

On a lighter note, I'm getting a kick out of how the narrator calls OKC "The OKC."

at least he doesn't call it "Oak City"

i hate that.

[Spartan]

"What's up this is OKC every day! Suicide every day yo! [pow pow]"

What could we have done to get them to not do this and air this? Seriously, we need to try and get our city's gangs on board with this whole "The New OKC" message.

[hoya]

I'm actually a little tickled by it. It makes us look badass.

It really is exaggerating the problem, though. I grew up on the south side. Live here now. I've never had problems with gangs, and I know some live in this neighborhood. I have never felt threatened.

[LakeEffect]

I'm actually a little tickled by it. It makes us look badass.

It really is exaggerating the problem, though. I grew up on the south side. Live here now. I've never had problems with gangs, and I know some live in this neighborhood. I have never felt threatened.

I agree on the badass side. But I don't necessarily think it's exaggerated. Gang violence isn't typically a random crime, so most of us on here would never feel threatened, even though it's a bad problem.

A few months ago, a co-worker that lives in Putnam Heights Historic District had a bullet enter his home at 8:00 am. He watched two groups of 4 guys basically unload on each other. All those guys and all that was hit was a car and a house... but a house with an 8-yr old, who, if she hadn't been watching TV, would have seen a bullet land in her bedroom.

The gang problem is out there, but it's not well known.

[hipsterdoofus]

Its ok guys - maps3 will fix the gang problem.

[fuzzytoad]

Its ok guys - maps3 will fix the gang problem.

I was wondering about that, especially since any talk about current criminal activites prior to the MAPS vote was met with severe criticism.

[hipsterdoofus]

I was wondering about that, especially since any talk about current criminal activites prior to the MAPS vote was met with severe criticism.

The idea is that the gangs and the vagrants will battle it out and kill each other off trying to claim the new park as their turf

[kmf563]

Typical reactions.

The OKC has been called that since I can remember by gang members. Or The 405.

The gang problem is huge here. Ask someone who works on our Specialized Gang Task Force. Or someone in their family who worries about them on a daily basis. It's been bad since I can remember.

For those of you who think it's not - I invite you to hang out at the Crip Wash for a night. Or watch a 13 year old girl get initiated into one. Visit the Southside Loco's "hood" on a Friday night. I have done all of the above. It's as real as the homeless problem downtown that is still being overlooked. Yes, we do have people sleeping under bridges at night.

If anyone remembers back in the late 80's there was a huge gang riot between the East coast vs. West coast. Guess where they met?? In the middle! That would be...oh yeah, OKC! There were huge gang fights in the streets of neighborhoods, drive bys every night, gang wars in public places such as Frontier City. This isn't anything new, it's just getting some awareness. And is growing!

Btw...I'm pretty sure gang members aren't sitting around waiting to be the headlining act on the History Channel...that isn't really what does it for them.

[SoonerLakers]

If anyone remembers back in the late 80's there was a huge gang riot between the East coast vs. West coast. Guess where they met?? In the middle! That would be...oh yeah, OKC! There were huge gang fights in the streets of neighborhoods, drive bys every night, gang wars in public places such as Frontier City.

Yeah, I remember seeing Biggie Smalls and 2-PAC riding the log ride together.

[kmf563]

Yeah, I remember seeing Biggie Smalls and 2-PAC riding the log ride together.

They seriously closed the park one night. Helicopters everywhere. About 100 cops. Guns drawn...from both sides. Parents and kids running and screaming. It was crazy. I think only 3 people got shot, but still. I met 2 people whom I later saw on America's Most Wanted.

Don't ask why I was there or how I know all of this. It's amazing I am still alive today. I've lived through a lot! Interestingly enough, gang members are what saved me growing up and kept me from harm. I was one of the few people considered a middler. That's one who doesn't have to pick a side or actually join the gang to be protected.