Today is Thursday March 28, 2024
ktbb logo


Longview Residents Address Gang Problem

Posted/updated on: February 13, 2017 at 3:57 pm
Print Friendly, PDF & Email


LONGVIEW – Some Longview residents are making efforts to fight local gang activity, with a city department helping lead the charge. KETK reports Lyndell McAllister is the Mentoring and Bridges program director under the auspices of the city’s Partners in Prevention initiative. “If we’re gonna do prevention we’re particularly thinking about elementary and middle school,” says McAllister. “By high school students have figured out which way they’re gonna go.” The program offers mentorship and a new initiative, “Hope for Youth,” aimed at keeping children involved in positive activities.

McAllister describes the program as “a team to strengthen families in our community and working on activities to do so.” She adds, “We have a team working with schools to do things like develop sports leagues for young people that are involved in alternative campuses.” She said if parents are too busy to pay attention, their mentors are there to help.”We’re not wanting to see our young people get lost that way,” she said.

Residents recently got an update on the gang activity, which authorities say fluctuates year by year. Membership within each group also changes. “You have at least 3 (members per group), but sometimes you may have 20-30 people operating together,” Kristie Bryan, Longview Police Department Public Information Officer, said. The city identifies all known gang members as required by Texas law.

Police said there are 42 documented gangs in Longview, but Bryan says they’re not all actual active gangs. “We have many different people that might be associated with a gang that live in Longview so we have to document them but as far as active gangs operating, not near that number,” Bryan said. She said there may be approximately 20 active gangs in the city.



News Partner
Advertisement
Advertisement Advertisement

 
Advertisement
Advertisement

© 1999 - 2024 Copyright ATW Media, LLC