The Orange Police Department's Gang Unit, also known as T.A.R.G.E.T. (Tri Agency Resource Gang Enforcement Team), consists of one Sergeant, three Detectives, three street suppression Investigators, one Probation Officer, one District Attorney, and one Investigator from the District Attorney's Office.
The mission of the Gang Unit is to protect the citizens of Orange through proactive suppression of gang activity and related crime. The Gang Unit provides education to the community (parents, schools, and business leaders), in an effort to intervene with the youth well before they interact with the criminal justice system. Gang intervention truly lies in the hands of the parents and the schools. The Gang Unit is responsible for proactive enforcement, thorough investigations and aggressive prosecution of all gang members who commit gang crimes. Therefore, the overall objective of the Orange Police Department's Gang Unit is to develop a partnership with the community to help effectuate our goals and keep our community safe.
CRIMINAL STREET GANGS
Criminal Street Gangs in America can be traced back to the early 19th Century. These original gangs formed as a response to social and economic oppressions facing the country at the time and have since evolved into today's gangs. California Penal Code Section 186.22 defines a Criminal Street Gang as a group of three or more people with a common name, sign or symbol whose members engage in criminal or anti-social behavior.
Criminal Street Gangs are very traditional in that they normally claim a turf and abide by a strict code of conduct. A gang's turf normally includes the neighborhood of the gang members as well as the area surrounding the neighborhood. Gangs often name themselves after the city or area where they exist (ex:: "Orange Varrio Cypress" / "OVC") or after a political, ethnic or social condition or belief (ex: "Nazi Low Riders" / "NLR").
Gangs utilize graffiti as a sign of communication. Gang graffiti gives a written warning, a greeting, marks off turf, can be an insult and identifies the gang and its members. Gang members also use hand signs to communicate within their gang and to other rival gangs. There are various types of criminal street gangs, including White Supremacist Gangs, African-American Gangs, Hispanic Gangs, Asian Gangs, Outlaw Motorcycle Gangs, Occult Gangs, Multi-Racial Gangs, Female Gangs and Prison Gangs.
Gang members also abide by an unwritten code of conduct that regulates the activities of its members. Gangs expect loyalty from their members and respect from rival gangs and the general public. Loyalty is often shown when gang members commit crimes for the gang (including assaults, thefts and vandalism). Gang members also receive respect by committing crimes and promoting an atmosphere of fear and violence within the community.
TAGGER CREWS
Tagging Crews are one of the most recent arrivals in street gang sub-culture. Unlike Criminal Street Gangs, Tagging Crews are different in that they usually do not have ethnic barriers, do not claim turf and primarily write graffiti. Like Criminal Street Gangs, Tagging Crews are organized into groups (called "crews") and members have nicknames (or "monikers"). Most Tagging Crews have names involving usually no more than two to three letters or numbers. Tagging Crews often name themselves after beliefs and/or actions (ex: "D2D" - Down to Destroy / "PNS" - Paint Non Stop).
Taggers view themselves as artists, not vandals, who write graffiti to express their artistic abilities. Tagging Crews do not normally claim territory. Taggers aspire to put up as much graffiti as possible over as large an area as possible. Taggers are thrill seekers who try to place graffiti in dangerous places, such as freeway overpasses, buildings and trains. As opposed to gang graffiti, tagger graffiti is often very intricate and detailed. Taggers often place a great deal of pride and time into completing their graffiti.
Taggers look at themselves as the "downtrodden," often saying that they are oppressed by societal regulations and criminal laws that prevent them from placing their "art" on others' property. Tagging Crews often have a hierarchy, with a "piecer," or a skilled tagger responsible for intricate pieces of graffiti, often being the head of a crew. Like Criminal Street Gangs, Tagging Crews have rivals. Taggers often "battle" their rivals with graffiti as opposed to physical violence.
In some cases, Tagging Crews also fit the definition of a criminal street gang. While most Tagging Crews do not resort to physical violence, some Tagging Crews have evolved into Tag-Bangers. Tag-Bangers are a combination of taggers and gang bangers. Tag-Bangers still commit graffiti vandalisms but also deal in other criminal enterprises, such as assaults, narcotic and weapons possessions.
CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE 186.22
Provides sentencing enhancements for gang members and associates
Allows for certain misdemeanors to be prosecuted as felonies
Allows for all members or associates who are present during the commission of a gang crime to be prosecuted, not just the perpetrator
Orders gang members to register with the local police department after being released from custody (P.C. 186.30)
SIGNS OF GANG MEMBERSHIP
Monikers (nicknames)
Style of clothing
Hand signs
Graffiti
Jewelry
Weapons
Tattoos
Photographs
Gang slang (language)
COMMON GANG TATTOOS
Tattoo
Meaning
Clock without the hands
Doing time in prison
Spider webs on elbow or shoulder
Doing time in jail or prison
Star on elbow
Served time in Orange County Jail
Laughing face/Crying face
Smile now/Cry later
SWP
Supreme White Power
X3 or 13
The 13th letter of the alphabet 'M' stands for the prison gang Mexican Mafia (EME)
SUR
Sureno or Southerner
714
'Orange County' (Area code)
1503
15th letter of the alphabet is 'O', the 3rd letter of the alphabet is 'C' (Orange County)
