1. Gangs and Gun Culture in St. Louis
City of St. Louis
Pop: 320,000
100% urban
World-class sports, arts, museums, zoo
Like many Cities, unique places political divisions

2. Urban Challenges
Ties into what the chief talked about—kids don’t have resources, reason for motivation, etc.
White Graduation Rate: 90.5%
Teen Pregnancy
10% of AA unemployed in February % of residents lived in poverty as of % per thousand teen pregnancy rate

3. Gun Violence: Our Biggest Challenge
138 lives lost to gun violence in 2014
31 armed robberies in four days
8 homicides in 24 hours
In 2014, over 470 guns were stolen in the city
2015, some of loosest gun laws in country
Easy access to guns by youth
RAS do numbers from instead

4. Homicide Rate Over Time
Chief of Police in the 2000’s (Mokwa) had aggressive approach to gangs.
Violent crime and homicides continued to trend down
Saw tremendous benefit of working together, combating gang activity,
Funding was allowing agencies to do good work

5. 2016 (YTD to March) Crime Report
Homicides: 35
Robbery with Weapon: 268
Assault: 743
Assault with a Gun: 391
As of April

6. Problem prior to 2015 Disbanding of gang units Defunding of resources
Perspective that gangs aren’t a problem
Single parent/grandparent home without access to social services…don’t know what to do with child who has gun/carrying gun
No intelligence within the CAO
can talk about how denying the issue doesn’t make it go away but, instead, makes it worse.
History of Law Enforcement Denial--single greatest catalyst for gang growth and commensurate victimization of law abiding public
Former Chief of Police’s policy to close eyes to realities
Policy was basically: “Deny, Disband and Disengage”
Recalcitrant approach caused gangs to grow, intensify and flourish at the expense of public safety
“Gangs aren’t what they used to be”
“Small, unorganized, loose affiliations”
“Disputes not related to gangs or drugs”
“People tied by blocks or some kinds of friendship they have”
“Don’t give them credibility”
Youth believe they “need” to carry guns

7. 147 Gangs Formed by geography Expanding territories
3,838 documented gang members in City
2,530 documented gang members in County
1,235 incarcerated
868 on probation or parole
Formed by geography
Expanding territories
Rolling gun battles
Impacting commerce
the St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department’s Gang Task Force worked diligently
through 2014 to understand and grasp the region issues and trends, while constantly
sharing information, resources and strategies developed by the SLMPD to reduce the
violence and overall participation in any type of street gang involvement.
3838 documented gang members in the city.
2,530 documented gang members in the county.
267 of those are deceased.
1235 are incarcerated.
868 are on Missouri or Federal Probation and Parole.
These three gangs started in a certain geographic region and have spread because they were ignored
Their crimes are getting more brazen—daytime shootings, shootouts on highways, multiple homicides at once
Civil unrest aside, the regional gang trends have been steady since 2013, in culture and
trending social phenomenon. The use of social media has impacted modern day criminal
street gangs and the unincorporated and unofficial affiliation to umbrella gangs (i.e.
bloods and crips). Circulatory, viral propaganda and the unrestricted access to produce
and promote digital media, including YouTube videos, collage photos, paint apps etc. are
trending and every popular amongst active, documented and undocumented gang
members and those younger individuals who associate only through an online presence
Numbers are combined because the gang population is transient between city and county

8. Gang Demographic
General age: 14-19
Youngest: 9
Oldest: 44

9. Hybrid-style gangs or “teams” Juvenile gangs Knock-out game
Social media
Street fighting and videos
Rolling gun battles/status
Juvenile gangs (Hybrid gangs) such as “Teams” and “Squads” became a rapidly trending
culture in St. Louis. The “Mob” mentality coupled with instances around the country of
“knock out games” became viral internet sensations amongst youth. During this trending
time, juvenile homicides were prevalent in the St. Louis region, leaving the masses to
quickly associate and form groups in honor of those murdered high school students.
The SLMPD began to see Hybrid style gangs take form in the City in early to mid 2013.
The first incident involving a "Team" (common identifying group label adopted
originally by groups of juveniles to memorialize other juveniles in their schools who were
murdered) name was during the 2013 Annie Malone May Day Parade. A group of
approximately juveniles ran through the crowds taunting police and disrupting the
event, instances of citizens being pushed to the ground as they were running were
reported.
While St. Louis has not seen a true organized gang structure in many years, we continue
to see the mixing of gangs or acknowledgement of alliances by these "Teams". Instances
of large crowds and fighting have occurred in different parts of the city, of which, social
media allowed for instant uploading of those involved. Through these fight videos in
conjunction with investigative techniques, we have been able to identify the following
Hybrid Gangs or "Teams" as playing roles in some criminal street activity in different
areas of the city

10. The Gun Culture “Everyone” is carrying a gun
Glory, glamour, status symbol
Rationalize as “protection”

11. CAO response Office Reorganization
Working with Chief of Police and Federal Partners
3 “R” - Remove, Redirect, Resolve
New Chief “gets it”
Have to compensate for mistakes of past
Gangs and guns are now a law enforcement and prosecution priority
Partnership and initiatives between and among St. Louis law enforcement and prosecution (current and planned)
Intelligence, investigation, suppression and enforcement units
Focusing on gang elements of crimes
Directing attention to brining the gangs down as opposed to “One for One” prosecution of individual defendants (heads of the Hydra)
Training of officers, investigators, analysts, and prosecutors
Specialized prosecution units
Serving notice on general public and gangs that we will be aggressive, unrelenting, and effective
Possible legislative initiatives
Assuring businesses and tourism interests that investment in St. Louis is a safe and productive “gang free” option
Making sure that families can see the Cardinals, Rams, and Blues, feeling safe and wearing what they want

12. Remove Focus on building intel -- CSU -- intelligence
-- formed new partnership with all federal agencies. Now have 3 national guard analysists
-- Identify drivers in partnership with SLMPD
-- Mission save
-- Enhanced written sentencing memorandum
-- Implemented Gun Stat

13. Redirect Enhanced diversion -- piloting a gun diversion program
-- work with P& P to enhance Gang “CPR” -- intensive supervision
-- Gun Court launched (possession) //
-- will track and measure through our Gunstat and AOI

14. Resolve Launched multi-prong communication plan
-- social media outreach
-- main stream media
primary communication tool
-- community meetings with 10 things you can do to combat gun crime

15. Resolve & Community Input – What Can Parents Do?
Consent to search
-- SLMPD and CAO worked out a “consent to search program”
-- knock on doors and ask for guns
-- Expand – to partnership with Juvenile court providing services
- call line
- agreement for no prosecution for possession
-- services from Juvenile court
-- Too early to tell

16. ATTENTION
A GUN HAS BEEN FOUND IN YOUR HOME
This gun may have been in the illegal possession of one of your children. Possession of a firearm can cause grave injury or death to you, your family or others. If you would like to seek help from the Family Court for your child, both of you may appear before a Judge and Deputy Juvenile Officer at the Family Court Building located at 920 N. Vandeventer, St. Louis, Mo on
________________ at _____ a.m./p.m.
Your appearance is voluntary. The Court can provide information about guns and answer questions that you might have in order to guide your child away from this pattern of destructive behavior.
PLEASE BRING THIS PAPER WITH YOU AND PRESENT IT TO THE SECURITY OFFICER IN THE LOBBY OF THE FAMILY COURT BUILDING.

17. R
Rachel A. Smith
Chief Prosecutor – Community Partnership Bureau

18. Photo Credits: Sources Stltoday.com www.stlouis-mo.gov Facebook.com
Stlamerican.com
Getty Images
Kmov.com
Treehugger.com
doubletree3.Hilton.com