Los Angeles declares that gangs "can exist" as long as they "behave"

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

Earlier this year Ray Peavy, then head of Los Angeles County's homicide squad, was asked what should be done about gangs. “The same thing you do about cockroaches or insects,” he replied. It's a good comparison, although not in the way Mr Peavy intended. The history of Los Angeles is full of bold declarations of war, none of which has dislodged the city from its undisputed status as the gang capital of America. As anybody who has suffered the critters knows, it is almost impossible to get rid of cockroaches.

For the past few months... the city's cops have followed a different, more promising, strategy. First, they named 11 gangs that they would target.

...

The second difference is that, Mr Peavy aside, the cops have not promised to stamp out any gangs, even the targeted ones. “They can exist,” says William Bratton, the head of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), “but they must behave.” A gang that murders people will be harried by civil injunctions and crackdowns on petty probation violations. A gang that avoids extravagant violence—as many do—will be left alone, more or less.

So far the strategy appears to be working. Between the start of January and the end of June, the LAPD counted 102 gang murders; by the same point last year there had been 143.

http://www.economist.com/world/na/displays...tory_id=9587793

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The second difference is that, Mr Peavy aside, the cops have not promised to stamp out any gangs, even the targeted ones. “They can exist,” says William Bratton, the head of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), “but they must behave.” A gang that murders people will be harried by civil injunctions and crackdowns on petty probation violations. A gang that avoids extravagant violence—as many do—will be left alone, more or less.

He's a smart man.

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The second difference is that, Mr Peavy aside, the cops have not promised to stamp out any gangs, even the targeted ones. “They can exist,” says William Bratton, the head of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), “but they must behave.” A gang that murders people will be harried by civil injunctions and crackdowns on petty probation violations. A gang that avoids extravagant violence—as many do—will be left alone, more or less.

He's a smart man.

I believe similar tactics were once used against the Mob.

[Lance27 32]

Civil lawsuites interesting.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

The second difference is that, Mr Peavy aside, the cops have not promised to stamp out any gangs, even the targeted ones. “They can exist,” says William Bratton, the head of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), “but they must behave.” A gang that murders people will be harried by civil injunctions and crackdowns on petty probation violations. A gang that avoids extravagant violence—as many do—will be left alone, more or less.

He's a smart man.

I believe similar tactics were once used against the Mob.

Street gangs are about identity and most members leave the gang after a certain age. Also the Mob bosses were very clandestine, untouchable.

[Scott & Lai 12]

A gang that avoids extravagant violence—as many do—will be left alone, more or less.

So, run-of-the-mill violence is acceptable?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

A gang that avoids extravagant violence—as many do—will be left alone, more or less.

So, run-of-the-mill violence is acceptable?

I think the point is that the LAPD has limited resources and they've made the decision to focus those limited resources on violent crime. Spread them too thin and you lessen their effectiveness. Focus in on gangs that are more violent and you may actually see results.

[Scott & Lai 12]

A gang that avoids extravagant violence—as many do—will be left alone, more or less.

So, run-of-the-mill violence is acceptable?

I think the point is that the LAPD has limited resources and they've made the decision to focus those limited resources on violent crime. Spread them too thin and you lessen their effectiveness. Focus in on gangs that are more violent and you may actually see results.

The use of the word "extravagant" suggests that the target will be the most extremely violent gangs, instead of violent gangs in general. This will be of little comfort to the victims of non-extravagant violence.

[Cassandra+Yuibi 0]

I thought the purpose of a gang was the wreck havoc and cause anarchy in general?

Does a well behaved gang skip the beating and rape and just mug me???

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A gang that avoids extravagant violence—as many do—will be left alone, more or less.

So, run-of-the-mill violence is acceptable?

I think the point is that the LAPD has limited resources and they've made the decision to focus those limited resources on violent crime. Spread them too thin and you lessen their effectiveness. Focus in on gangs that are more violent and you may actually see results.

The use of the word "extravagant" suggests that the target will be the most extremely violent gangs, instead of violent gangs in general. This will be of little comfort to the victims of non-extravagant violence.

I think they mean they'll take a mass murder more seriously than a string of assaults. LA is a big area - police can't be everywhere. Isn't this one of the reasons people say they need guns - because the job of police is not to 'prevent' crime?

[Scott & Lai 12]

A gang that avoids extravagant violence—as many do—will be left alone, more or less.

So, run-of-the-mill violence is acceptable?

I think the point is that the LAPD has limited resources and they've made the decision to focus those limited resources on violent crime. Spread them too thin and you lessen their effectiveness. Focus in on gangs that are more violent and you may actually see results.

The use of the word "extravagant" suggests that the target will be the most extremely violent gangs, instead of violent gangs in general. This will be of little comfort to the victims of non-extravagant violence.

I think they mean they'll take a mass murder more seriously than a string of assaults. LA is a big area - police can't be everywhere. Isn't this one of the reasons people say they need guns - because the job of police is not to 'prevent' crime?

Try getting a CCW Permit in L.A. And the job of the police is to prevent crime, by capturing criminal and removing them from society. What it is not is to be personal bodyguards, hence the need for civilians to be able to have guns for their defence.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A gang that avoids extravagant violence—as many do—will be left alone, more or less.

So, run-of-the-mill violence is acceptable?

I think the point is that the LAPD has limited resources and they've made the decision to focus those limited resources on violent crime. Spread them too thin and you lessen their effectiveness. Focus in on gangs that are more violent and you may actually see results.

The use of the word "extravagant" suggests that the target will be the most extremely violent gangs, instead of violent gangs in general. This will be of little comfort to the victims of non-extravagant violence.

I think they mean they'll take a mass murder more seriously than a string of assaults. LA is a big area - police can't be everywhere. Isn't this one of the reasons people say they need guns - because the job of police is not to 'prevent' crime?

Try getting a CCW Permit in L.A. And the job of the police is to prevent crime, by capturing criminal and removing them from society. What it is not is to be personal bodyguards, hence the need for civilians to be able to have guns for their defence.

Depends where you live really. We used to live in Monrovia. No crime there, certainly nothing gang-related. Got to know the dodgy parts of the city and places to avoid. Never owned or needed a gun.

[Scott & Lai 12]

A gang that avoids extravagant violence—as many do—will be left alone, more or less.

So, run-of-the-mill violence is acceptable?

I think the point is that the LAPD has limited resources and they've made the decision to focus those limited resources on violent crime. Spread them too thin and you lessen their effectiveness. Focus in on gangs that are more violent and you may actually see results.

The use of the word "extravagant" suggests that the target will be the most extremely violent gangs, instead of violent gangs in general. This will be of little comfort to the victims of non-extravagant violence.

I think they mean they'll take a mass murder more seriously than a string of assaults. LA is a big area - police can't be everywhere. Isn't this one of the reasons people say they need guns - because the job of police is not to 'prevent' crime?

Try getting a CCW Permit in L.A. And the job of the police is to prevent crime, by capturing criminal and removing them from society. What it is not is to be personal bodyguards, hence the need for civilians to be able to have guns for their defence.

Depends where you live really. We used to live in Monrovia. No crime there, certainly nothing gang-related. Got to know the dodgy parts of the city and places to avoid. Never owned or needed a gun.

I suppose that's fine, as long as you don't leave the safe environment where you live....

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

A gang that avoids extravagant violence—as many do—will be left alone, more or less.

So, run-of-the-mill violence is acceptable?

I think the point is that the LAPD has limited resources and they've made the decision to focus those limited resources on violent crime. Spread them too thin and you lessen their effectiveness. Focus in on gangs that are more violent and you may actually see results.

The use of the word "extravagant" suggests that the target will be the most extremely violent gangs, instead of violent gangs in general. This will be of little comfort to the victims of non-extravagant violence.

I think they mean they'll take a mass murder more seriously than a string of assaults. LA is a big area - police can't be everywhere. Isn't this one of the reasons people say they need guns - because the job of police is not to 'prevent' crime?

Try getting a CCW Permit in L.A. And the job of the police is to prevent crime, by capturing criminal and removing them from society. What it is not is to be personal bodyguards, hence the need for civilians to be able to have guns for their defence.

Depends where you live really. We used to live in Monrovia. No crime there, certainly nothing gang-related. Got to know the dodgy parts of the city and places to avoid. Never owned or needed a gun.

I suppose that's fine, as long as you don't leave the safe environment where you live....

Not me - I've been all over the place. Worked for a land surveyor for a while in various parts of the city. Really just a case of using common sense. I wouldn't go tooling around in Compton, Watts, or Inglewood, and certainly not after dark. Can't be a victim of crime if you're not in a place where its most likely to happen to you.

Don't have to believe me - wife lived there 28 years and never owned a gun, and was never the victim of any crime, and she's driven all over the city. As have my my Mother in Law and her business partner - they work all over the LA valley. No guns, never been victims.