Oklahoma City makes ‘Most Gang Infested Cities in America’ list

[GoOKC1991]

Oklahoma City makes ?Most Gang Infested Cities in America? list | KFOR.com

[PennyQuilts]

I saw that, elsewhere. It was a bit frustrating that they didn't include how they tabulated the results.

[rezman]

I want to know how Okc came in ahead of the toilet that is East St. Louis. Or how we even made the top ten for that matter.

[zookeeper]

Not a lot about methodology. Just this:

*(The cities on this list are, by and large, in no particular order as concluding the number of gang members per city is widely inaccurate and some more recent studies are incomplete. Furthermore, statistics are based upon municipal law enforcement agencies, the FBI and CDC gang information.)

Oh, and here's the direct link to the OKC page if you're interested. 5. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma - TheRichest

[trousers]

Click bait as news. KFOR continues their quality journalism.

[Laramie]

Where's Atlanta, Miami, Newark, Oakland, Philadelphia and St. Louis?

1. Chicago, IL
2. Los Angeles, CA
3. Detroit, MI
4. Camden, N.J.
5. Oklahoma City, OK
6. East St. Louis, IL

Oklahoma City a notch above East St. Louis, Illinois?

The credibility of this report just got flushed down the toilet...

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[trousers]

[hoya]

Just so you know, the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office receives a federal grant for gang prosecutions. Defendants who are determined to have "gang contacts" (have a brother who was in a gang, are friends with someone who was in a gang, or whatever other nebulous connection the DA's office decides) are assigned a gang team prosecutor. These are just like regular prosecutors except their office is down the hall. These prosecutions are reported back to the feds for purposes of keeping the grant.

[RadicalModerate]

I wonder if the survey, cited on the other side of the link in the OP, included all viewers of the locally filmed "reality drama comedy" show called, "Street Outlaws" . . ? That's gang infestation if I've ever seen it.

[Mel]

I wonder if the survey, cited on the other side of the link in the OP, included all viewers of the locally filmed "reality drama comedy" show called, "Street Outlaws" . . ? That's gang infestation if I've ever seen it.

Hey now, Daddy Dave hit the curb tonight. Lost #1.

[zookeeper]

A lot of it goes back to this study CDC - Gang Homicides - Youth Violence - Violence Prevention - Injury

And...we DO have a LOT of gang violence. Our geography with the I-40 and I-35 intersect downtown makes Oklahoma City a bullseye for territorial fighting, which is what we have so much of. A major North-South interstate that runs border to border and a major East-West interstate that runs from California to North Carolina is just a transportation recipe for these problems. Combine drug cartels with street gangs that traffic in anything and everything, and it can be dicey. Fortunately, the territories for the street gangs are fairly small but VERY symbolic - and their fighting that comes with these turf wars can be very violent.

The list is surprising to some, but honestly, it's probably not far off. They also said in this latest list we're discussing that the cities were in no particular order - but then proceeded to put numbers beside the city names.

[BBatesokc]

I've been contracted to work on two gang specific TV series locally in the past for two different cable TV channels. Both times my job was to covertly get really good footage of obvious gang activity in the city and to introduce producers to gang members and leaders for interviews. I also occasionally ride along with local bounty hunters. In some cases they go looking for gang members whose bond has been revoked. After seeing it first hand, I've got to tell you, we have a serious gang problem and it is getting worse. Not much on the streets literally scares me, but gangs do and that is why I don't target them or their activity much at all in my activism. There is nothing rational about their activity and they often feel they have nothing to lose.

[okclee]

BBates .... What specific areas, that you know of in the Metro, have the most gang activity?

[BBatesokc]

The gangs I was asked to focus on were South Side Locos, Juaritos and a couple of version of the Crips (Playboy, HHC, etc.). I filmed in OKC, Shawnee and Tulsa. Another videographer filmed in Lawton, but I didn't go with him.

No surprise, locally the places I filmed the most were SW side of town and SE side. A few neighborhoods (as in focusing on a particular house or two) but mostly public parks and outdoor areas where large groups of people would gather on Friday and Saturday nights (ranged from large parking lots to car washes). I naturally had to stay put in our surveillance vehicle (tinted older model Astro van) because I would have stuck out like a sore thumb, but I did have two people that could walk amongst the crowd with a consumer grade camera rolling and nobody really paid attention to them.

[Laramie]

Brian Bates knows our city, he will be a person knowledgeable about concerns in which many of us are naïve.

A God-son of mind, Joel Rivas was killed in the area of 16th street Plaza District in what appeared to be gang related. I will always be in denial that my city (#5 above East St. Louis, IL) has been infiltrated with gang activity as a result of the I-40/I-35 crossroads intersection. It's difficult to grasp that OKC is a top ten gang infested area. The TV Gang documentary they did on Oklahoma City some years ago with the incident at Crossroads Mall was an indication of what has occurred in our city. ...A gang member was allowed to leave L.A. to re-establish in OKC with the blessings of a judge as a plea deal to allow for a new start. Gang members have radar for one another; they established here to continue with their activity. Now the O.G.'s have penetrated new territory.

My experience in East St. Louis dates back to the early 70s when a UCO classmate invited me to his home in the projects (where police wouldn't venture). The few days there enlightened me about my life in a city that was laid-back and peaceful (so I thought). East St. Louis was like a third world country. St. Louis, MO wasn't any better as the two cities shared many of the same concerns. Could we anticipate a new awakening?

Oklahoma City, we have a problem...

"Oklahoma City looks oh-so pretty... ...as I get my kicks on Route 66." --Nat King Cole.

[okclee]

The gangs I was asked to focus on were South Side Locos, Juaritos and a couple of version of the Crips (Playboy, HHC, etc.). I filmed in OKC, Shawnee and Tulsa. Another videographer filmed in Lawton, but I didn't go with him.

No surprise, locally the places I filmed the most were SW side of town and SE side. A few neighborhoods (as in focusing on a particular house or two) but mostly public parks and outdoor areas where large groups of people would gather on Friday and Saturday nights (ranged from large parking lots to car washes). I naturally had to stay put in our surveillance vehicle (tinted older model Astro van) because I would have stuck out like a sore thumb, but I did have two people that could walk amongst the crowd with a consumer grade camera rolling and nobody really paid attention to them.

Thanks for the info, I am curious to know the actual Okc neighborhoods.
I travel around throughout all areas of the metro daily, rarely at night. I just want to make sure I'm not in the wrong place at the wrong time.

[Hollywood]

Thanks for the info, I am curious to know the actual Okc neighborhoods.
I travel around throughout all areas of the metro daily, rarely at night. I just want to make sure I'm not in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Brian can obviously provide more about the southside, but I will share that one should avoid Western between Hefner Road and NW 122nd as activity has been on a steady increase with the steady northward movement of the violence. A hot spot in this area is off of NW 87th. There is also activity back to the west at 122nd and Penn.

From personal observation, have seen colors start being displayed and activity in the area of NW 150th and Penn. Eventually, it will move into Edmond around 15th and Santa Fe.

[Dennis Heaton]

The most notorious gang in Oklahoma City...the "Gray Panthers."

[bluedogok]

Just so you know, the Oklahoma County District Attorney's office receives a federal grant for gang prosecutions. Defendants who are determined to have "gang contacts" (have a brother who was in a gang, are friends with someone who was in a gang, or whatever other nebulous connection the DA's office decides) are assigned a gang team prosecutor. These are just like regular prosecutors except their office is down the hall. These prosecutions are reported back to the feds for purposes of keeping the grant.

Follow the money.......

[PennyQuilts]

The most notorious gang in Oklahoma City...the "Gray Panthers."

I wonder what they'll make me do so I can be a member when the day arrives? Steal some young kid's diaper?

[Mel]

[PennyQuilts]

Long years ago, my brother was a small time dealer running with some big dogs and in way over his head. They said jump, he jumped as high as he could and years later, he told me that was the most terrifying time of his life. His girlfriend was kidnapped and held hostage for three weeks of hell. I knew nothing about this and rarely went to his house but one day while out running errands, I dropped by, unannounced. He didn't want to let me in but being a big sister, I barged on in like I owned the place.

There were three guys there sitting in the front room and they just stared at me. You could have cut the tension with a knife. They said nothing even though I chirped out some inane, "Hi, I'm Penny," followed by, "Sorry I didn't call first but I was out running errands and looking for something for mom's birthday - any ideas?" One of them told my brother to come with him into the back part of the house and he followed him back there. It was awkward being in the front room by myself with the two guys but I got myself a drink of water and asked if they wanted any. They said no, but one of them said, "Okay," so I got him a glass. The kitchen was adjacent to the front room and he followed me so that he could see what I was doing in there. I thought it was creepy but didn't think more of it.

About that time, my brother returned from the back of the house with the man and shortly thereafter, he hustled me out the front door. One of the guys "escorted" us out to my car. My brother pointedly said, "Tell Mom I'll be by next week," and several times mentioned vague family references and her birthday.

Later, he told me they were there to collect some money he didn't have and when I drove up, they worried I was an undercover cop trying to intervene. Before I walked into the house he'd told them I was his sister and didn't know anything about anything. He was relieved that I immediately confirmed I was his sister. The guy that took him into the back of the house checked him for wires and after I left, they roughed him up. He told me to never, ever, never, never, never, never, ever come by his house without calling ahead. I didn't.

[kelroy55]

PQ.... I'm assuming he got out of that life OK.

[gracefor24]

Brian can obviously provide more about the southside, but I will share that one should avoid Western between Hefner Road and NW 122nd as activity has been on a steady increase with the steady northward movement of the violence. A hot spot in this area is off of NW 87th. There is also activity back to the west at 122nd and Penn.

From personal observation, have seen colors start being displayed and activity in the area of NW 150th and Penn. Eventually, it will move into Edmond around 15th and Santa Fe.

Most places in OKC are safe to drive around. There is really very little random violence in OKC. It is almost always gang related, drug related, or domestic related.

Classen Ten-Penn (mostly as you go further south from Plaza District)

Hefner & Western.

Lyrewood.

Grand Apartments on Reno right off I-40 headed into Del City.

North Highlands (Wishire & 235)

Will Rogers Courts (SW 15th & Kentucky/Westwood Ave)

Ambassador Courts (SE 15th and High)

Kerr Village (SW 15th and I-44)

Prince Hall (NE 23rd & Kelley)

27th and MLK

Just in general, lots of spots from I-235 to I-35 between NE 10th and NE 36th. I-40 to I-240 from Portland to Shields. Portland to Council between NW 10th and 23rd.

[PennyQuilts]

PQ.... I'm assuming he got out of that life OK.

Well, it is a typical story, actually. He got busted by the cops and they leaned on him to give up the guys up the chain. He felt like that was signing a death warrant. They actually ended up giving him probation for information with assurances that he wouldn't have to testify. He didn't believe them but they told him they'd put his girlfriend in jail and the kids in fostercare so he snitched. Fortunately, he never had to testify but he got a dui the next year and hadn't been complying with the terms of probation so he went to prison for awhile.

He straightened up on dealing after that but got into meth with predictable results including the kids ending up in fostercare, anyway (I was in Virginia and didn't know). I never thought he'd live to 30 but he turned 52 last month. He disappeared for several years and I had professionals looking for him with no luck - he was off the grid. I was really afraid he was in a shallow grave, somewhere. He resurfaced two years ago just to let me know he was alive and where he was living but then disappeared, again. His kids know how to find him and while not in touch, someone would let them know if something bad happened.

The gangs are super violent but that's not all they are - it's a business and sad cases like my brother who doesn't have a violent bone in his body are often targeted if they are foolish enough to think they can dance with the devil. And not just the fools - as I said his girlfriend was horribly treated (and that sort of thing would never be reported, much less prosecuted) and someone like me could have simply stumbled in, accidentally, and been dealt with. Years later he was still shaken that I showed up when I did. He actually had been afraid they were going to kill him but backed off because a witness (me) waltzed in by luck. Or something. Alternatively, at the time, he was afraid they'd hurt me, too.