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

[zookeeper]

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.

You left out a current hot spot - Windsor Village (NW 23rd west of Meridian).

[ljbab728]

Article calling Oklahoma City 'gang infested' lacks context | News OK

The website claims to have based these rankings on FBI crime statistics.

The FBI warns bloggers and journalists to not rely on these crime statistics to make lists of most dangerous cities, safest places to live, etc.

“These rankings…are merely a quick choice made by the data user; they provide no insight into the many variables that mold the crime in a particular town, city, county, state, region, or other jurisdiction. Consequently, these rankings lead to simplistic and/or incomplete analyses that often create misleading perceptions adversely affecting cities and counties, along with their residents.”

The FBI warns that these statistics can be misleading because they are based on the numbers reported by municipal departments. For example, one police department might respond to more crimes because they have a more officers and can handle more cases. That doesn’t mean that particular city is less safe; it could be the exact opposite.

[okclee]

I would like to know from an Okc police perspective where the hot spots are for gang related activites and the "gang infested" neighborhoods.

[kevinpate]

From 87 as an interested student to 2006 when I left public service, my assignments varied from ankle deep to above the ears deep in homicide related issues. While most of the areas listed by gracefor24 trigger pretty specific memories, those memories are not very gang intensive. Some, but certainly not all, nor even the majority.

Then again, another eight years have come and gone as well.

[Dennis Heaton]

I would like to know from an Okc police perspective where the hot spots are for gang related activites and the "gang infested" neighborhoods.

There was something on TV about that not long ago. I can't recall which station reported on that though.

[Laramie]

Gangland a TV documentary featured Oklahoma City back around 2009-10:

'Crazy Killers.' South Side Locos (Sureños) of Oklahoma City.

Lives were lost as two established Southside gangs were at war.

Gangs like some of our local gangs are dangerous. Law enforcement has had to deal with isolated incidents which lead to death (homicide, murder, lost of innocent lives). Our gang problem is real; however it hasn't elevated to what goes on in a lot of your larger cities.

Do we have a gang problem? Every major cities has gangs. We have got to get a firm handle on this kind of illicit activity before we have major concerns.


Kudos to the OKC Police Department: created its own gang unit in 1993.

Gang activity not limited to urban centers, investigators say | News OK

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

[gracefor24]

From 87 as an interested student to 2006 when I left public service, my assignments varied from ankle deep to above the ears deep in homicide related issues. While most of the areas listed by gracefor24 trigger pretty specific memories, those memories are not very gang intensive. Some, but certainly not all, nor even the majority.

Then again, another eight years have come and gone as well.

OKC is interesting that way. If you weren't specifically looking for it you wouldn't notice a lot of the gang activity since it's really ceased to be about territory and flashing colors and such. The Hispanic gangs are more that way in terms of fighting over turf.

Those areas are highly gang active and I could name the gang that controls each of those areas though some are hard to pin down. These neighborhoods come straight from work with the Gang Unit in OKCPD.

The interesting idea is that most of these are gang related but not gang specific. Almost everything in those neighborhoods are directly tied to gangs even if they weren't caused. So more correlative than causative.

Just a few examples:

Classen Ten Penn- Juaritos

SW Side of town is battled over by South Side Locos and GBC (Gran Barrio Centrale)

27th and MLK is Neighborhood Crips '27'

Prince Hall is Prince Hall Crips

Ambassador Courts is SE Village Crips

Kerr Village has quite a few Oak Grove Posse

North Highlands is 456 Piru and other blood sets

107 Hoover and Shotgun Crips are spread out over the East Side though certain neighborhoods lean heavily one way or the other.

[okclee]

OKC is interesting that way. If you weren't specifically looking for it you wouldn't notice a lot of the gang activity since it's really ceased to be about territory and flashing colors and such. The Hispanic gangs are more that way in terms of fighting over turf.

Those areas are highly gang active and I could name the gang that controls each of those areas though some are hard to pin down. These neighborhoods come straight from work with the Gang Unit in OKCPD.

The interesting idea is that most of these are gang related but not gang specific. Almost everything in those neighborhoods are directly tied to gangs even if they weren't caused. So more correlative than causative.

Just a few examples:

Classen Ten Penn- Juaritos

SW Side of town is battled over by South Side Locos and GBC (Gran Barrio Centrale)

27th and MLK is Neighborhood Crips '27'

Prince Hall is Prince Hall Crips

Ambassador Courts is SE Village Crips

Kerr Village has quite a few Oak Grove Posse

North Highlands is 456 Piru and other blood sets

107 Hoover and Shotgun Crips are spread out over the East Side though certain neighborhoods lean heavily one way or the other.

This is good information and probably needs to be discussed more often. I think it is good if people know where the gang activity is and know what to look for. If anyone has anymore information on specific areas and neighborhoods, please share.

[gracefor24]

I would like to know from an Okc police perspective where the hot spots are for gang related activites and the "gang infested" neighborhoods.

A few articles for context:

OKC Police Expose Violent Juaritos Gang, 30 Gang Members Charged - News9.com - Oklahoma City, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports |

Oklahoma City police chief cites gangs, drugs for increase in deadly violence | News OK

46 arrested in Oklahoma City area during ICE-led anti-gang operation

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/sp...ted=print&_r=0

Drugs Not Driving Gang Violence, CDC Says | StoptheDrugWar.org

21 Gang Members Charged With 85 Counts of Conspiracy, Gun and Drug Related Charges

[zookeeper]

Grace, I think we know each other - last name "M"? I think you're right on a lot of those but are missing some of the latest hot spots. So much of what you said is accurate, but I have to disagree that these pockets aren't particularly dangerous if you're not involved in gang activity. Just recently a 20-year-old girl was almost pulled out of her car at gunpoint, until she hit the gas with her hands and sent the car forward enough for her to regain control and speed away. Crazy - but smart. This was near Hefner & Western. Another very similar attempted carjacking as a young teenage boy was driving home from work at 9:15 on a weeknight and the car was attacked while waiting at a stoplight. This near NW 23rd and MacArthur. I say avoid many of these areas after sunset, and some of the southside areas anytime if you're alone.

[gracefor24]

Grace, I think we know each other - last name "M"? I think you're right on a lot of those but are missing some of the latest hot spots. So much of what you said is accurate, but I have to disagree that these pockets aren't particularly dangerous if you're not involved in gang activity. Just recently a 20-year-old girl was almost pulled out of her car at gunpoint, until she hit the gas with her hands and sent the car forward enough for her to regain control and speed away. Crazy - but smart. This was near Hefner & Western. Another very similar attempted carjacking as a young teenage boy was driving home from work at 9:15 on a weeknight and the car was attacked while waiting at a stoplight. This near NW 23rd and MacArthur. I say avoid many of these areas after sunset, and some of the southside areas anytime if you're alone.

Totally agree. I just meant in general. If you are aware of your surroundings you should be ok but I agree that most people are better off not spending a whole lot of time in these places!

What do you think the latest hot spots are?

[MadMonk]

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.

About a decade ago I and a couple of co-workers were on a training trip to St. Louis. One night we were headed to the riverboat casino on the east side of the river (I forget the name) and we became lost in E. St. Louis. We were joking about that scene in National Lampoon's Vacation where Chevy Chase stops to ask directions and gets his hubcaps stolen. I was driving and missed the turn for the casino and somehow turned right into a block party where I was definitely not supposed to be. I remember seeing someone laying face-down in the gutter and I'm not sure if he was passed out or dead. We just cruised through slowly, ignoring taunts from a few of the party-goers. I started busting up laughing because I thought of that Chevy Chase line "Roll 'em up" when he heard gunshots. Good times...
(**Some adult language**)

[Laramie]

A few articles for context:

'A Football Standout’s Final Uniform Is Red, the Color of His Gang.'http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/07/sp...ted=print&_r=0

Thanks for sharing these articles gracefor24:

One article in particular really touched close to home.

How tragic was the life of: Richard Allen Dean, known as Mandrell, was killed Jan. 27 when a 17-year-old boy shot him, the police said, after Dean broke into an apartment, assaulted a woman and demanded money and jewelry.

Somewhere there was a breakdown in the structured values system of Mr. Dean's life. His potential as a football player, he never achieved his heights because he didn't possess the prerequisite classroom skills necessary to qualify him to play football. He turned his leadership ability to his surrogate (gang) family as his support.

"Among the blind, the one-eyed is a king."

The chronicles of Richard Allen Dean's life should touch all of us about the perils of gang activity and the road individuals trod throughout their lives. God rest his soul...

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages. --William Shakespeare

We should all be thankful for the guidance we received which allowed us our path to achievement.

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