Online database highlights local gangbangers
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It seems gangbangers have graduated to the Internet age.
There's a story in the P-I today about Northwest Gangs, an online database of local street gangs and their members. The site started as a personal project of a Yakima native, and has since grown into a comprehensive sociological profile at gang members in the Northwest.
Apparently, the guy who runs the site gets information on gangs from concerned parents, school officials...and the gang members themselves:
Through word of mouth, the Seattle-based Northwest Gangs Web site has become a resource for parents and school officials, even detectives seeking information. Some police officers, however, worry that it gives gang members sought-after hype that could help them recruit young teens, as well as a forum to threaten each other.
There's a lot of controversy surrounding this one, as some argue the site only works to glorify these street thugs, but I see a different problem here: why does "Brad" from Yakima have more credible and comprehensive information on gang members then the friggin' police departments in the area?
I'm sure they will argue that their information simply is not public, but come on. When a security guard has a better relationship with concerned community members than those sworn to protect and serve, we've got issues.
Sites like this may do some harm by essentially giving a badge of honor to the punks who sully our streets, but at least "Brad" is taking a grassroots, proactive approach to the problem. The gang issue in Seattle is getting worse. At least people like "Brad" aren't ignoring it.
