Harrisonburg: a gang haven?

Within the last year, Harrisonburg and the surrounding areas have become more than just a "safe haven" for gang members. There have been more taggings (graffiti), crimes, and recruiting recorded in common, everyday places.

Sgt. Shane Brown of the Harrisonburg Police Department said, "In the past, there was some tagging (gang-related graffiti) and then, just over the past year, our jurisdiction has seen ... a rise in gang-related activity."

There are at least 10 different types of gangs operating in the area. The most recent tagging found in Harrisonburg looked related to the gang known as Sur-13. Sur-13 is a Mexican gang that started in a Californian prison system. They are closely linked with MS-13, another group originating in California. Other types of gangs that may be seen in Harrisonburg and the surrounding areas include, but are not limited to, Gangster Disciples and Latin Kings, both based in Chicago.

Many gang members from Washington, D.C., and other larger cities nearby had connections in or near Harrisonburg and came here for a time away from gang business if they were in trouble with the law. If cops were after them, they came and hid out here. While they were here, they would not just lay low because there was no need. Police in this area did not know of them and were not searching for them. Instead, these gang members went out and recruited other young kids to become part of their gang. They even went to middle schools to get some kids. Children as young as 10 years old have been recruited to become a member in a gang.

Once these gang members started kids from schools, school boards in the area started to realize something dangerous was brewing. People noticed that their children were getting into things they should not, and they were not going to let that happen. As mentioned in the Daily News Record, the Harrisonburg school system is taking this gang problem seriously. They want to get to the root of the problem.

Superintendent John Heubach said, "We want to get underneath what can be and assist our community in addressing the problem on our streets so it reduces the likelihood of them entering our doors."

Schools are not the only establishments that are dealing with gang problems. Some businesses in the area have dealt with major issues. Big Lots recently suffered a gang-related robbery; at Rose's there is tagging and graffiti around the building and its surroundings; and in an unnamed restaurant a gang fight erupted, leaving a 15-year-old girl with a stab wound. These issues made people in the community realize that gangs are a problem here in the "friendly" city.

The police forces in Harrisonburg and surrounding counties have been well aware of the situation and have been tracking the slow increase of gang activity over the year. According to Sgt. Chris Rush, officers have been going through training this past year, getting ready for what was to come to Harrisonburg.

"Gangs have been surrounding us for a long time now; it was just a matter of time until they would actually get here," said Rush.

Sgt. Rush is a member of the Harrisonburg Police Department, as well as director of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Gang Investigators Network. Rush said that the law enforcements within different counties help each other out. If one hears about certain gang information that might be heading the other's way, they are sure to let them know so that they are properly prepared for the situation. Such things help communities become stronger, not only within their own jurisdictions, but with others as well.

There are gang coordinators who deal with the youth in Harrisonburg. They meet together monthly to discuss certain issues pertaining to gang activity and what new information they have picked up with the youth.

The police, as well as those at the Boys and Girls Club of Harrisonburg and Rockingham County, came up with many words of gang prevention and risk factors to share with the community. If a child seeks love and guidance and does not get that at home, a place that they could look to is a gang. Gangs promise to provide that love and understanding. They make kids who are vulnerable feel like they will have a place that they are loved and accepted no matter what.

Gang issues are being taken head-on by many different groups in the valley. Schools, the local Boys and Girls Club, local businesses, and the police forces are all doing their parts to prevent this problem from overtaking their environment.

"We've already been the meth capital of the East Coast, let's not be the gang capital," said Commonwealth's Attorney Marsha Garst. "Let's not get caught asleep behind the wheel again. Let's send the message to the gangs that you cannot have our children."