Gangs of LA
Photography by Compton Police Deprtment property.
Brennan was assigned to the Compton Police Department’s Gang Intelligence/Investigations/Homicide Unit. This specialized unit was tasked with investigating gang violence, gang related crimes and homicides.
RWI: Tell us about the photos in this essay. Who are they? where did you get the photographs? Are some dead? jailed?
TB: They are photos of many of the people that we have dealt with in Compton over the years. Many are in jail or dead now.
RWI: What is the definition of a gang and how do they continue to exist and thrive?
TB: A gang is three or more persons with a common sign, signal, or name that commit crimes ranging from vandalism, thefts, narcotics sales, assaults, murder, either individually or collectively in furtherance of there criminal enterprises, which promote terrorism within the community.
RWI: How have gangs changed over the decades?
TB: Gangs have changed with the times, and have gotten more sophisticated, and have used technology to assist in their crimes. They have also gotten more violent toward police, and much more violent against other racial groups.
Gangs used to have more structure and rules of conduct that no longer apply.
RWI: What affect do gangs have on the community and society? Effects on witnesses to crimes. (Murder, drive by's).
TB: Gangs spread terrorism throughout the community, which has an affect on possible witnesses, to those acts.
RWI: What affect does the deaths of young gang members have on their families?
TB: It has the same affect, as it would to any other family member that had a young relative die at a young age. However families that know the lifestyle that the gang member was involved in are often not surprised by what
happened.
RWI: Why are so many young kids being lured into gangs and why can't their families be held responsible for their actions.
TB: You can’t get blood from a turnip. The media mtv, movies, video games etc. often glamorize the lifestyle. Additionally, there is constant pressure in gang neighborhoods for kids to join gangs, and many will for protection, or financial gain, or just because they are kids and make bad decisions.
RWI: What is the average life expectancy for a gang member?
TB: You would have to look up a statistical site for that, as there are many variables, such as how active the person is. However it is not good. They are in jail or dead most often.
RWI: Do many of the gang members regret their pasts and what they have done to others? Is there any help for ex gang members from society? Or do they fall back into criminal activity? Do police offer protection to ex gang members?
Do you have any respect for them?
TB: I am sure that many once they have matured, regret their actions. There are rehabilitation programs, but you have to want them. Often times they go back to what they know. I have had a certain level of respect of some, but for most they need to change their lives before I could truly respect them.
RWI: What affect does gang activity has on police their moral?
TB: It can be hard if you don’t see any change.
RWI: Why are gangs so hard to dismantle and push towards extinction?
TB: Because as long as there are crimes, poverty, unemployment there will be gangs.
RWI: What role do women play in gangs?
TB: Some are hardcore members, most play a support role to assist their boyfriends.
RWI: Who are the most dominant/dangerous in the Compton area?
TB: The most dominant has changed over the years, as the level of their activity draws increased police enforcement, and incarceration.
RWI: What sets some gangs apart from others?
TB: Some, are more violent, some specialize in robberies, or narcotics etc.
RWI: Why is Compton such a hotbed of gang activity?
TB: Generations, of poverty and gangs.
RWI: Has Los Angeles seen an increase in gang activity, from Mexico and Central America? Like Malva Salvatrucha?
TB: Very little MS activity in Compton due to the other long time entrenched gangs.
RWI: How many people have died in gang violence?
TB: Check a stat site, I do not have a figure right now.
RWI: Has RICO ever been used against gangs?
(Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations)
TB: It has on a state level, more than federal. It can potentially be very effective.
RWI: How many police officers have died, or been wounded.
TB: Too many good cops have been killed by gang members. Kevin Burrell, and James MacDonald were friends. I saw Kevin grow up, and he rode with me many
times. I knew James less, but have come to know his family well, and know them all to be wonderful people. In June 2005, my partner for the last year Jerry Ortiz was shot and killed by a gang member, just weeks after, I left him to go back to Compton. He was a great friend with great kids and family, and had been married for less than a month. gang violence hurts many.
Editior's note:
We can only hope by looking at these people in this essay, who lived fast, desperate, poverty stricken lives, and turned to gangs for whatever reason, that we learn a valuable lesson about ourselves from them.
Not only are most dead or in jail but the reverberations of their gang related crimes will be felt on their victims and their families and friends for a lifetime. Their feelings of loss never go away.
As we look at teenagers posing and toting guns in these photographs, some in their family's living room's, we can also only hope that the new generation are smart enough not to be influenced by the violence we see all around us, in games, television and in film.
At the end of the day we all have choice and the choices we make effect us all.
This essay is in memory of Police officers Kevin Burrell, James MacDonald and Jerry Ortiz and all the other police officers around the world. Their bravery and their dedication to their jobs of making the streets safer to walk and make a community worth living in, ultimately cost them their lives.
