NEWS

Morris Sheriff’s Office offers gang training

Michael Izzo
@MIzzoDR

PARSIPPANY – The Morris County Sheriff’s Office Security Threat Group Unit is offering a free civilian-based training to help the public identify, properly react to, and prevent local gang activity.

The program is being held to recognition of the 15-year anniversary of the Security Threat Group Unit and will detail, “New Jersey gangs that have infiltrated our communities” according to an announcement from the Sheriff’s Office.

The “New Jersey Gang Awareness, Identification, and Prevention” training runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 27, at the Morris County Public Safety Academy, 500 West Hanover Ave. in Parsippany. Registration begins at 8 a.m. that day.

The training is “highly recommended” for educators, medical staff, health care professionals, security officers, community outreach, law enforcement officials, school resource officers, social workers, EMS, criminal justice professionals, parole officers, psychologists, and faith based organizations.

The Sheriff’s Office is running the program in conjunction with Rutgers University’s Violence Institute of New Jersey and the Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Crime Law Enforcement Network.

Topics covered will include New Jersey gang awareness and identification, media trends and influences, and understanding the “gangster mentality.” Speakers include Cpl. E. L. Santana of the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Security Threat Unit and Jack Farrell of the Violence Institute.

The Security Threat division of the Sheriff’s Office was founded 15 years ago and Santana said he’s been speaking to organizations, schools, and fellow law enforcement officers about gang activity ever since.

“Speaking with civilians is different than speaking to officers,” Santana said. “This training will focus on teaching people how to recognize gangs, see what recruitment looks like, and learn how to deal with it.”

Santana said there is gang activity in every county in the state

“Morris is not as prevalent, but kids understand the culture that’s brewing, which parents may not realize. They just think ‘not in my backyard, not here,’” Santana said. “But we’re so close to cities associated with gang activity. 15 to 30 minutes from Newark or Patterson, less than an hour to Brooklyn, or two hours to Camden. And gangs in those cities look to the suburbs to recruit.”

The announcement of the free gang training comes weeks after Morris County police departments were put on alert after threats were made against law enforcement officers in the wake of Freddie Gray’s death.

At that time, the Baltimore Police Department received credible information that members of various gangs, including the Black Guerrilla Family, Bloods, and Crips entered into a partnership to "take-out" law enforcement officers. This information was shared by local law enforcement including Parsippany police.

Santana said the gang training has been in the works for months and is not a response to current events.

“There’s always going to be a national problem that highlights the need for a program like this,” Santana said. “That’s why we need to be proactive and make parents and civilians aware. Because someone has to take up the fight.”

In June 2014, the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed a special initiative targeting various suspected Bloods street gangs operating in the county and saying they are chipping away at violent activity.

Among the 21 arrests announced at that time were eight documented Bloods gang members or associates involved in violent crimes and illegal drug distribution dating back to fall of 2013.

Some of the Bloods identified in the arrests were believes to be from distinct sets, including "Sex, Money, Murder," the "Insane Mob Gang," "Piru," and the “Bevin 793” set.

“Don’t wait until it’s too late to ask for help. You may not realize it’s a gang issue but bullying, drugs, sex, those can be gang related,” Santana said. “Whether you’re seeing signs in school or a hospital you work at, or there’s an issue at home, take this free opportunity to educate yourself, to protect you and your family.”

People can contact Cpl. E. L. Santana for more information on the gang training at 973-631-5422 or esantana@co.morris.nj.us.

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@GannettNJ.com

If you go:

New Jersey Gang Awareness, Identification, and Prevention

When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 27

Where: Morris County Public Safety Academy, 500 West Hanover Avenue in Parsippany

Cost: Free

Contact: Cpl. E. L. Santana at 973-631-5422 or esantana@co.morris.nj.us