Gangs in Kansas City: Evolution of a Criminal Culture
The following article is an excerpt of information provided by Master Patrol Officer James Schriever of the Central Patrol Division in response to questions and concerns voiced by neighbors at the January 2010 VNA meeting. It traces the development of local gangs from prototypes imported from Southern California and later Chicago in the late 1980s and touches on the relationship of graffiti to the presence and activities of gangs in the Kansas City area investigated by the Kansas City Police Department's Gang Squad.
A second article devoted solely to graffiti and how to combat this blight will appear next month. -Ed.
In 1987, members of Los Angeles street gangs began arriving in many cities throughout the Midwest to establish drug distribution operations. Many local youths became involved in selling drugs and also adopted the gang culture. From these origins, local gangs began to spring up, many of which bear the names of original street gangs from Los Angeles. Around 1990, members of Chicago street gangs also appeared in the Kansas City area, frequently to avoid arrest or to set up drug operations.
There are believed to be approximately 3055 gang members or affiliates and over 442 different gangs in all areas of Kansas City, Missouri. Many of these consist of only a few members and most of these have little or no actual connection or affiliation to gangs in other cities. Street gangs in the areas have been arrested for all forms of crimes: murder, robbery, rape, assault, narcotics, firearms violations, auto theft, and numerous other crimes. Approximately 90% of their activity involves narcotics such as "crack" cocaine, methamphetamines, PCP, and Ecstasy.
In October of 1993, the Kansas City, Missouri Police Department recognized the need for a full time unit devoted to identifying criminal gang activity and investigating it. The Gang Squad was developed and places particular emphasis on violent crimes, narcotics activity and firearms violations. The City of Kansas City, Missouri has gangs throughout the entire city. The allure of gang culture draws young people from all walks of life, socio-economic backgrounds, races and ethnic groups.
The vast majority of gang members in Kansas City, Missouri grow up together on the same block, live in the same area, or attend the same school. However, these gang sets sometimes manifest themselves into some loosely aligned gangs that have significant impact in many areas of the community. It is not uncommon for gang members in this area to change their gang affiliation and to claim affiliation with more than one gang set. Gang members reflect a constituency of those at the very bottom of the social ladder with little hope of legitimate advancement in society. Gangs in Kansas City, Missouri to date have had little to no connection or commonality with the national gangs since the late 1980s. This is not to say in the future there is a possibility of national gangs infiltrating the City of Kansas City, Missouri again.
If you witness or suspect the presence of gangs and gang activity in your neighborhood, call the Gang Squad at 483-8235 (leave message) or call the TIPS Hotline, 474-TIPS (8477).
