Gang Identifiers
What Adults Need To Watch For,
and Act On!
Officer Chris Crapser
Fort Wayne Police Officer /
Snider H.S. – S.R.O. &
acting Indiana School
Resource Officers
Association Training Director
Experience includes :
- 18 years on job.
- Details included,
gang investigation,
extensive vice and
narcotic investigations
including numerous
undercover
assignments as well
as drug interdiction.
Also specializes in
school safety , which
entails staff and
student education.
Current
Position:
Snider High
School / S.R.O
Explanation….
 This information is no secret!
 Share it with whoever you choose, except kids.
 Those who are involved and around it already
know this information but may still act offended.
 The information you are about to see is a basic
overview that has seemed to repeat itself over
the last 3 generations in Indiana.
 There will be no area specific intelligence, but
rather broad based intelligence that has stood
the test of time.
 This class is for the officer who does not work
with gangs on a daily basis, as well as the
school employee’s, such as administrators,
teachers and whomever may need a yearly
refresher.
History of gangs in our schools..
 Indiana defines a gang as a group of 3 or more
people that is organized and involves
themselves in felonious crimes.
 In the mid 1970’s, Latin gangs, African American
Gangs, and Caucasian gangs merged into two
major groupings, the “People” and the “Folks”.
“Independents” are neither.
 These two groups were developed in prison for
safety reasons, and have been enemy’s, but will
still conduct trafficking together if money is
involved.
History….
 Much of the influx of gangs, at least in the
northern half of the state, has traveled
from either Chicago or Detroit.
 The sudden impact of the gangs and its
graffiti became very apparent around 1980
within our Indiana schools, especially in
urban areas.
 Initial denial from political leaders did
nothing but help root those gang
influences into our neighborhoods, which
are still thriving today!
Before we get started…
 Remember: We are building a puzzle!
 A single piece of suspected evidence generally
does not paint the whole picture, though it
should raise a flag for either documentation,
further investigation, and or a mental note!
 Building your puzzle is the same as conducting
an investigation. Gang members will act
oversensitive, because they know we are afraid
of being labeled as racist, politically incorrect, or
negligent.
 Remember you are investigating for your safety,
the schools and students, and society. It is the
right thing to do!
School Identifiers:
School Identifiers
Student admits to hanging out with
gang members.

StudentStudent
shows an unusual
admitsinterest
to Hanging
in one or two particular colors of
members.
clothing or certain brand / logo
clothing.
Student shows an unusual

out with gang
interest in one or two
Studentparticular
uses unusualcolors
hand of clothing or particular logo’s.
signals to communicate with
 Student uses hand signals to communicate with
friends.
Studentfriends
has specific drawings or
gangsymbols
on school
or drawings or gang symbols
Student
has books,
specific
clothing, or gang related tattoos.
on school books, clothing, tattoo’s, etc…
Student has unexplainable bruises
 Student has unexplainable injuries, bruises, etc..
or injuries.
Student has unexplained “bling”,
jewelry, money, clothing, shoes!
Folk Nation Sets
Folk
More identifiers
Identifiers:
 Student has unexplained money, jewelry,
Student’s
whoetc..
represent on the left or right side of their body:
bling,

Examples: Hat tilted to left or right side, colored bandanna, lanyard, do
Student’s who represent strictly on the left
rag hanging from left or right pockets, one pant leg rolled up, sweat
bandor
around
L/Rside
arm or of
leg,body,
band aid’s
on cheek,
colored shoe string
right
(ie,
hat tilted,
on one shoe, L/R hashed eye brow, 6/5 pointed star earring on one ear,
or lastly, even a colored bracelet like the blue one on this students right
pocket,
on left or
wrist.hanging
The price of from
this picture
in front ofsweat
a principalband
------------------------------- right
PRICELESS
………………………
appendages,
band aid’s, colored
bandanna, pants leg, do rag strings
•Homemade
clothes on
is one
of the newest
techniques
shoe strings
1 shoe,
hashed
eye for
assumed
covert
gang
pride. Watch
forear,
the airbrushed shirts,
brows,
star
earring
in L/R
the “RIP” clothes, the hand painted / altered shirts, pants,
and coats.
•
THE CLOTHING WITH DOUBLE MEANINGS…………….
Area high schools
have an
estimated 50
active gang
members,
depending on
school.
Approximately 20
of these students
have been
identified and
documented.
There are no
Wann-a-b’s!
Currently the
freshman and
sophomore
class represent
approximately
70% of the
active gang
members..
There are a few
reasons:
1- Expulsion,
suspension,
and drop out
rates in higher
grades.
2-Encarceration
3-Death
Many of
these
students
generally
follow
traditional
gangs.
Gangs are
cyclical in
nature. I’m
arresting the
children now
of gang
members I
arrested in
the 90’s.
Folks Nation:
Chicago and Detroit consist of highest
percentage of Folk in nation. We receive
multiple students from each city yearly.
WHAT SHOULD I DO?
People Nation Identifiers
Watch for: Students with erratic attendance, poor
behavior, declining grades.
Watch for: A constant group of students with an
unusual high desire for secrecy that dress similar.
Watch for: Students exhibiting signs of drug use;
odor, attitude.
Know your surroundings, make a conscience effort to
Pyramid
watch for the identifiers and
act on them.
Not only is this important during school hours, it is
more important at after school activities. *Security
generally is reactive. Every administrator needs to
take part to provide a safe educational facility.
Make sure to report activity to nearest security
personnel.
People Nation
Graffiti: Vice
Lord.
Watch for
the RED Tshirt
draped
around
neck!
Renegade Vice Lord’s
Test: #1
“King” David
Barksdale
WWW
WWW
WWW
WWW
Test Number 2
Coats & Jerseys ----- Just a piece of the puzzle.
#3:What does this
mean?
I
Is it a gang or occult?
“To the children of our community who have a history of being
ignored by both their own communities and the communities
around them, We believe that we owe them a change.
When was the last time you looked at your child with supportive
eyes and hugged, kissed, or told them you loved them? It is
your obligation to protect the children of all cultures for they are
the kings and queens of tomorrow’s Nations.
To all children whose eyes travel through these pages, know
that you are loved, appreciated, and needed. You are special
and important to people you have not even met yet. However,
the most important person that loves you and needs you is you.
May the almighty not only shine his guidance, protection and
wisdom on us, may he also provide us the strength to
understand his blessings, accept and appreciate them. Latin
King/Queen Nation
Gang Represented Lyrics
 "Shottas"
(feat. Cam'ron, Sizzla)
[Intro: Sizzla (Juelz Santana)]
Owwwww!!!! Ha Ha!!!
Click clack and it's over you dead (This is it)
My damn glock, buss a cap in your head (Santana)
It's in my blood I love killin you fools (This here for my shottas)
I'm a thug, that goes by no rules (DipSet!) Owwwww!!!!
[Chorus: Juelz Santana]
Heaven knows if I'm meant to go (I'm a shotta)
Let me know if I'm meant to go (I'm a shotta)
Send the toast if I'm meant to go (I'm a shotta)
Tell my folks I've been sent to go
I got a shotta, shotta, shotta, shotta
Scream shotta, shotta, shotta, shotta
We shottas, shottas, shottas, shottas
Yeah shottas, shottas, shottas, shottas
Insane Clown Posse /
Psychopathic Records
 Juggalo’s and Juggalette’s
Juggalo History

Juggalo/Juggalette is a member of the group that has
grown up around the fanbase of the Michigan rap group
Insane Clown Posse, and related recording artists at
Psychopathic Records. Much of the predominant
philosophy of the group stems from the Dark Carnival, a
mythology that was carried as a theme in six ICP albums
known as the Joker's Cards.
 The Juggalos (also referred to as the Juggalo Family)
started in the early 1990s. As seen in other subcultures,
from parallels in music came parallels in interests, style,
and slang. The group is racially diverse, and racial
tolerance is emphasized. Facepainting in the style of ICP
and other Psychopathic Records artists is a common
practice at Juggalo-oriented social events.
Juggalo Crimes
 On February 1, Juggalo Jacob D. Robida engaged in a series of
hatchet attacks and a shooting spree which left three dead,
including himself and a police officer.
 Between June 18 and June 20, more attacks involving Juggalos,
some wearing the clown makeup, were reported by the Seattle
Times.
 During the nights of June 19 and 20th, another series of attacks by
Juggalos left nearly two dozen injured. The group, armed with a
machete, attacked, robbed, and threatened to decapitate visitors to
Fort Steilacoom Park in Tacoma, Washington, shouting "Woo! Woo!
Juggalo!" Seven suspects have been arrested, and three have been
charged with assault and robbery.
Crime & Punishment April 2012
All Three Juggalos Suspected in Tacoma Home-Invasion Robbery
Now Apprehended
Juggalo gets mad , tattoos juggallo on victim’s face then demands
money and is arrested in Massachusetts. March 2012
Juggalo cont..
In the FBI’s 2011 National Gang Threat Assessment, the agency officially classifies the
fans of the Detroit-based duo as a fast-growing, violent gang.
The agency described the Juggalos as a “loosely-organized hybrid gang” akin to
traditionally ethnic-based gangs like the Latin Kings.
Only four states recognize the Juggalos as a gang -- Arizona, California, Pennsylvania
and Utah -- but many criminal Juggalo subsets have been identified in 21 states. And
New Mexico seems to be a target.
Juggalo criminal activity tends to be disorganized, individualistic and consist of simple
assault; personal drug use and possession; petty theft; and vandalism, but a small
number of Juggalos are becoming more organized and engaging in more traditionally
gang-like crimes such as felony assaults, thefts, robberies and drug sales. "Juggalos’
disorganization and lack of structure within their groups, coupled with their transient
nature, makes it difficult to classify them and identify their members and migration
patterns.
Many criminal Juggalo subsets are comprised of transient or homeless individuals.
Transient, criminal Juggalo groups pose a threat to communities due to the potential for
violence, drug use/sales, and their general destructive and violent nature."
The Umbrella
Clique’s are local or geographical in
territorial nature, or activity based.
(example: Metro Football)
Clique’s many times fall under a
regional gang along with other allied
cliques.
Generally the regions gang bi-laws are
adopted as is there colors and what
they represent.
A regional gang many times falls under
the allegiance of national organizations
or crime syndicates.
Thanks to the internet, gangs have the
best communication possible at their
fingertips. (Recruitment also!)
A single clique can contain multiple
national rival gang members, within the
same clique.
Clique’s and gangs are the same, and
are both very alive and intertwined.
Up and Coming…
$K.O.D$ IF YOU DONT KNOW ME YOU GON KNOW
ME NOW
W
M.O.B. /
M.O.E.
Male
17 years old
FORT WAYNE, Indiana
United States
MAKING MONEY AND SMOKING TREES: $.KILLA K..
http://www.facebook.com: NO I GET MONEY THATS ALL.THE DAY YALL
SHOT AT ME I WILL SHOT AT YALL.BUT TILL THEN WE COOL MY
NIGGA.............. Goon Squad…………
The Hispanic Gangs are growing at alarming rates! Illegal migration!
Clique’s and the Internet
Remember This: Clique
names are based
directly from RAP
music lyrics, songs,
rappers, and their
clothing lines. Blog
sites are a huge
gateway to spreading
this information.
Gang Graffiti “North Side Park”
More Degradation
Good & Bad, 5 Pointed Crown
This Doesn’t Raise The Local
Property Value!
Last Test….
Remember, gang members are THE most violent part of society!
If we cannot change fate….
XX
XX
WW
WW
XXX
W
XX
Are we told that the Parents have no idea?
Is their child always right?
Is “parent enabling” a constant issue when discipline is involved by
others?
Who can change their fate? Themselves…
Tough Decisions…
 Local school disciplinary consequences advise
that principals can punish gang activity by
applying everything from In School Suspension
to Expulsion.
 We often times want to save the child, but at
what cost? The safety of the school? Should
there be an alternative school?
 By giving them more chances than most, do we
teach irresponsibility?
 Can they change, and what are the odd’s?
How do we rehabilitate?
 Many parents, or guardians move their gang member
child to better schools , or more rural areas with hopes
they can get a new start at a new school, and maybe
learn some positive traits from a better environment.
 Does this work? Most times not… The social
glamorization and acceptance of gang mentality,
behavior, music, and entertainment, only allows the
transplant gang member to recruit those who may be
impressionable causing a spread of criminal activity in
that new neighborhood. This theory has been proven on
a daily basis.
 Like someone addicted to drugs, the gang member has
to make the decision on their own that leading a criminal
life, with incarceration and the potential for death, just is
not the way they want to live their life. They have to
make the decision, we will not be able to change them
unless they decide. Sugar and Honey generally doesn’t
work.
You DO become your environment!
Some more than others………..
“Thug life “ spreads like a virus because
society supports it. We must “DRAW A
LINE”! Schools will only get worse unless
we support enforcement at all levels.
Questions?