VALDOSTA, Ga. — Organized crime is nothing new. Gangs are a reality in nearly every city — Valdosta is no exception. 

Gang activity is on the rise in Valdosta, according to reports from Valdosta Police Department and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department. 

The increase can be attributed, in part, to the fact residents and law enforcement are more aware and educated on gang activities and signs, leading to more reporting and arrests of gang members. 

There are approximately 12 gangs currently operating in Valdosta, according to both the Valdosta Police Department and the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Department. 

While gang membership and the reported activities are on the rise, crimes specifically related to gang activity has stayed about the same for the last several years, according to the sheriff’s department. 

The gangs are nationally known groups including Folk Nation, Bloods, Crips and Hispanic gangs.

Chief of Police Brian Childress said he believes the worst thing a city could do is not accept the fact that it has gangs.

“You can’t be in denial. They’re here, they’re present, we’re on them,” he said.

The most common crimes attributed to gangs include murder, assault, terroristic threats, robbery, burglary, theft, credit card fraud and narcotics violations, according to reports from both law enforcement agencies.  

Narcotics trafficking and use are often the most prevalent gang crimes reported.

“Anytime you have a gang, you can attribute two things to it, drugs and guns,” Childress said.  

While overall gang activity has been increasing, crime rates in the city have declined. Part I crimes, which include major crimes such as murder, rape, arson, larceny, aggravated assault and robbery are on the decline from 2000 to 2015. 

Social media has played a large role in the increase of gang membership as well as the ability of gangs to advertise their brand instantly around the world, according to FBI reports. Gangs have changed throughout the years. The increase of technology has also advanced the capabilities of gang leaders.

“From a gang standpoint, it has created a problem for us, you don’t have to be face-to-face to recruit somebody,” said Childress regarding the use of social media by local gangs. “The problem is, these gang leaders lie to people. They say they are going to do things for these people, but they don’t do anything for them but get them locked up in jail.”

Crime is lower now than in 2000, yet the base population has increased by more than 31 percent, Childress said.

From 2000-2015 the city has seen a decrease in crime rates by 15.63 percent, he said. 

“We are on track for 2016 to go down again in crime rates,” the police chief added.

Childress said there are two components to consider, crime decreases and the clearance rate (arrest and prosecution).

For example, the nationwide murder clearance rate is about 62-65 percent, the rate in the City of Valdosta is at 96 percent since 2007, according to VPD data.

Childress emphasized the importance of community residents working with law enforcement to keep crime rates down. 

“It is not law enforcement’s responsibility to reduce crime,” said Childress. “It is the individual community members, the businesses people, folks working with us to help us do it.” 

Childress also credits good police work along with a supportive city government, an increased cooperation between agencies and information sharing as being vital to the success of the department’s overall efficacy.

Along with these factors, the improving economy plays a role in the decrease of crime rates. When the economy is doing better, more people are employed and less likely to commit crimes out of necessity, according to law enforcement. 

Childress said he believes the way to reduce gang membership is by talking to students through programs such as Students Against Destructive Decisions and continuing to educate the public.

Gang leaders are recruiting people as young as 11-12 years old, Childress said. The young age is not an anomaly to Valdosta, it is nationwide, he said. 

Childress said he cannot overstate the importance of good parenting.

“These gang leaders, to me, they are nothing but thugs. They prey on kids. They’re not trying to help anyone,” he said. “They are criminals. If you do not become a parent to your kids, they will become one … and not the kind they need.”

The sheriff’s office emphasized the importance of good parenting as well, and said parental involvement is key since many children don’t have adequate supervision and are introduced to gang activity through peer pressure and intimidation. 

According to experts, tips for preventing youth from becoming involved in gang life include parents becoming actively involved with their children; knowing where children are at all times; asking questions about children’s friends; taking the time to learn about gang indicators and if observed, take action to stop a child’s involvement. 

The sheriff’s office recommends parents or guardians be aware of what children are watching and listening to, the way they dress and the language they use. 

Getting children involved in organized sports, summer jobs, volunteer groups, faith groups and community organizations are ways to prevent youth from becoming involved in a gang, according to officials. 

The community needs to be aware that gangs are active in the city, said the police. The best way to combat the problem is to be proactive. Avoid becoming a victim by first not being in a position to become a victim, always be aware of surroundings and stay away from areas known to be high in drug or gang activity, these suggestions were given by both law enforcement agencies.  

Business owners are encouraged by officials to report and paint over any “tagging” or graffiti on their buildings as these are used by gangs to mark territory. 

The Southwest Georgia Gang Task Force is a special organization tasked with identifying and documenting gangs and gang members. The SGGTF gathers intelligence to determine gang locations and the types of crimes attributed to each gang. 

The task force consists of officers in the Southern Judicial Circuit including Valdosta Police Department, Thomasville Police Department, Lowndes County Sheriff’s Office, the FBI and a special agent from the Department of Corrections. 

The gang task force has been crucial to stopping gangs throughout the state and within Valdosta, said Childress.

Another aspect of gang activity that most residents do not think about is prison gangs. All prison gangs are represented at the Valdosta State Prison, according to a sheriff’s department report.

“Our community has specifically been impacted by the occurrence of scam activities carried out by inmates,” according to a statement from the sheriff’s office. “Unfortunately, many gang members continue to carry out their criminal enterprises even after being jailed. Although not limited to, these crimes often include fraud and narcotic activities. The inmates, and their families are not immune to the crime inside the prisons. Inmates are often used to extort money from family members on the outside through the threat of violence to their loved ones who are incarcerated. The solicitation of family members to assist in smuggling contraband and money laundering is common among inmates.”  

Residents are encouraged to stay vigilant and contact authorities if they have suspicion of gang activity in their area. 

Michael Praats is a reporter at the Valdosta Daily Times. He can be reached at (229) 244-3400 ext. 1257.