Youngstown residents learn to spot gangs

Some children join gangs as young as 6, a BCI speaker said.
By SEAN BARRON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN -- George Duval knows that most of the 20 to 40 kids who congregate at certain houses in his Judson Avenue neighborhood are likely doing more than merely hanging out.
Many cause problems by swearing at some residents and playing music too loud, for example; recently, a few jumped on and assaulted his 5-year-old son.
"I want to see my neighborhood peaceful, respectful and cleaner," Duval said, adding that he won't let his two children play in their front yard unless he's present.
For Lynne Holloway of Hilton Avenue, part of the problem in her neighborhood has been kids who fight and threaten others their age. She also has noticed graffiti on some vacant homes in her area -- a sign of possible gang activity.
Vandalism and occasional gunshots are a fact of life for Ralph Smith of Judson Avenue. Part of the problem he also sees is parents who don't properly supervise their youngsters, Smith said.
Duval, Holloway and Smith were among about 100 area residents who attended Wednesday's Southern Boulevard Block Watch meeting at St. Dominic School, 3403 Southern Blvd. Most of those who came wanted to learn more about gangs and what they can do to address various problems they see in their communities.
About the speaker
The event's keynote speaker was Vinco Kucinic, criminal intelligence supervisor with the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation.
Kucinic stressed that gangs operate in many rural as well as urban areas and often display a pattern of wearing distinct clothing, tattoos, colors and bandanas, and spray-painting graffiti. As soon as it appears, graffiti needs to be addressed, he said.
"When it comes to graffiti, it's the three R's -- report, record and remove it," Kucinic said.
He noted that participating in gang-related crimes is a second-degree felony in Ohio.
Among the reasons some kids as young as 6 join gangs is for acceptance, pride and a sense of belonging. Close to half of gang members join at ages 14 and 15, he noted.
A disturbing trend has been gang members joining the military, after which they return to the streets more dangerous, he continued. Some who have fought in the war in Iraq, for example, receive training in urban-style warfare, Kucinic added.
Many gang members are no longer fighting it out on the streets. Many are using the Internet to recruit potential members, and thousands of gang-related Web sites exist, Kucinic noted.
He advised the audience to be vigilant by watching for graffiti as well as for more subtle activities such as large number of people with similar attire congregating in the area.
The block watch's next meeting is set for 7 p.m. April 18 at St. Dominic.