Demon Child
04-16-2005, 12:45 PM
For years, authorities said that groups of teens with names like Boot Camp and Elk Block were just "wannabes" or "loosely organized" groups claiming certain street corners. But a federal gang task force determined that Boot Camp and Elk Block members were involved in running organized operations to sell guns and drugs throughout the Syracuse area.
Subsequent arrests raised questions about when groups of youths constitute a gang, and whether a delay in determining that gangs exist could exacerbate the problem.
"When these 13-year-old kids start sitting on these streets, looking up to their older brothers, that's when we need to start redirecting them to other things," said Jaquaya Gregory, 25, who grew up with members of Boot Camp and Brighton Brigade. She said the groups grew stronger because the city failed to pay attention to them.
First District Councilor Steve DeRegis, who represents the city's North Side, said the city should have done more with children who dropped out of school and started hanging out on street corners.
"Anytime you're in denial about something, you're not addressing the issue," DeRegis said. "I think there's a lot of sections of the city that have gang activity. I think on the lower North Side, there's some gang activity. To deny that would be foolish."
The Onondaga County Sheriff's Department also criticized Syracuse police for refusing to share information with the Syracuse/Onondaga County Law Enforcement Coalition on Youth Violence.
The coalition, comprised of federal law-enforcement agencies, county departments, and city and county police, was formed to address youth violence.
Thomas Tubbert, chief deputy of the sheriff's department's police division, said Syracuse's lack of cooperation and denial of gangs allowed the situation to get worse and slowed the community's response to the problem.
Yo this is a news article about the Cuse if yall just think of us and think of a fuckin college Cause I'm straight from Brighton and I'm a brighton brigade all day so dont get it twisted when I say Syracuse shit we the HIGH DRO CAPITAL (weed) 1
Subsequent arrests raised questions about when groups of youths constitute a gang, and whether a delay in determining that gangs exist could exacerbate the problem.
"When these 13-year-old kids start sitting on these streets, looking up to their older brothers, that's when we need to start redirecting them to other things," said Jaquaya Gregory, 25, who grew up with members of Boot Camp and Brighton Brigade. She said the groups grew stronger because the city failed to pay attention to them.
First District Councilor Steve DeRegis, who represents the city's North Side, said the city should have done more with children who dropped out of school and started hanging out on street corners.
"Anytime you're in denial about something, you're not addressing the issue," DeRegis said. "I think there's a lot of sections of the city that have gang activity. I think on the lower North Side, there's some gang activity. To deny that would be foolish."
The Onondaga County Sheriff's Department also criticized Syracuse police for refusing to share information with the Syracuse/Onondaga County Law Enforcement Coalition on Youth Violence.
The coalition, comprised of federal law-enforcement agencies, county departments, and city and county police, was formed to address youth violence.
Thomas Tubbert, chief deputy of the sheriff's department's police division, said Syracuse's lack of cooperation and denial of gangs allowed the situation to get worse and slowed the community's response to the problem.
Yo this is a news article about the Cuse if yall just think of us and think of a fuckin college Cause I'm straight from Brighton and I'm a brighton brigade all day so dont get it twisted when I say Syracuse shit we the HIGH DRO CAPITAL (weed) 1