Special to EmergencyNet News - 09/06/97
INSIDER THREAT: POLITICAL THREAT TO
LOCAL AND NATIONAL
By: James P. Denney - Managed Response
We often hear the term "nation state"
used when discussing the continuing evolution of the post cold war global
political condition. These frequently unstable, evolving entities, with their
changing ideologies and loyalties, are often perceived as representing a threat
to
There are approximately 7,400 individual gang sets
in the
Based in
Is this an anomaly?
There are basically two gangs in Chicago1, The
Folks Nation and The Peoples Nation. Each of these gangs have
subsets that include Gangster Disciples and Black Disciples for the Folks
Nation and the Vice Lords and Latin Kings for the Peoples Nation. In addition
to the subsets, there are political arms attached to the Gangster Disciples.2 The political arms are known as "The 21st Century
Vote," and "Growth and Development." They are known to be active
in the states of
Is this a serious concern?
The Folks Nation Gangster Disciples are the most
structured of all street gangs and they are represented bi-coastally in
twenty-eight states and 102 separate jurisdictions. 3
The assumption, based on current trends, is that
once local politics have been penetrated, state offices will be the next target
for infiltration. Gang influence, promulgated through elected office,
represents a significant threat to national interest.
ARMED FORCES IMPLICATIONS
A second inside threat is the infiltration of gang
members into the armed forces (including the National Guard). This has already
occurred and predominantly exists in the enlisted ranks. However, the extent of
infiltration is not known. Because their first loyalty is to the gang, gang
affiliation will result in compromised readiness, low morale, increased discipline and introduce a broader range of
criminal enterprise within the infiltrated units.
Gang activity may not be readily ascertained and
may be misinterpreted as, or attributed to cultural activity and
ethnocentricity within a given ethnic group. It is likely that those units
containing a gang faction are experiencing an increase in drug use or sales,
violent crime, and weapons violations.
Anecdotal examples:
1. During the Los Angeles Civil Disturbance of
1992, two uniformed National Guard members were arrested when prepared Molotov
Cocktails were discovered in the trunk of their vehicle.
2. U.S. Navy shipboard photographs depicting gang
members displaying colors, hand signs, weapons and money have been confiscated
by local law enforcement agencies during routine arrest.
3. Some community law enforcement agencies
geographically co-located with military installations include military
personnel in their gang activity reports.
CIVILIAN PUBLIC SAFETY IMPLICATIONS
A third "insider threat" is the
infiltration of gang members into the civilian public safety sector. This has
also occurred and the extent is not known. However, the results should be
expected to mirror those experienced by the armed forces.
Finally, there is no method of determining the
extent of gang infiltration or assimilation into the general infrastructure of
local, state and federal organizations. The lack of regimen,
organization, discipline and leadership have combined to create a
limited threat capability from the general gang population. However, current
attempts at transnational organization are on-going and if success is achieved
at any time, a significant threat to
References:
[ERRI Comment: There have been additional
(unpublished) reports of county and state correctional officers and local
police officers having gang affiliations prior to or during their public
service employment. At least some are believed to have carried these
allegiances with them on to the job and may covertly be assisting members of
the gang infrastructure. There have been arrests of officers in at least two
known jurisdictions and official allegations of their involvement with known streetgang members. -- C. L. Staten, Sr. Analyst]
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