John Bowman
Gang Specialist
Consultant, Expert Witness, and Instructor
jbowman@hot.rr.com
SBLE Intermediate
Gang Investigations Class
TCLEOSE #
Instructor(s):
John Bowman
Sandra Hunt
Phone: 254-290-3215
Phone: 254-702-0697
Time Allotted: 2.5 hours
Instructional Aids:
Lap Top Computer
Power Point Projector
Video Screen
Remote Control
Stereo Speakers
Student Materials:
Handouts (Provided by ICJS)
Student Notebook (Provided by ICJS)
Writing Utensils
Prerequisite Experience of the Learners:
Licensed Peace Officer and/or
Licensed Security Personnel
Security Personnel must be currently employed with a school district and working as
security personnel for that district.
Student should have attended the SBLE Basic (Basic Gang Awareness), but may be allowed to
attend if accepted by the Director of ICJS.
Goal:
The goal of the Gang Investigations Class is to provide the student with the knowledge base of
how to collect and analyze intelligence on gang members, and show the student how to use this
information to make them a better investigator while working with gang members
Prepared:
July 2009 by John Bowman
Revised:
January 2010 by John Bowman
1
John Bowman
Gang Specialist
Consultant, Expert Witness, and Instructor
jbowman@hot.rr.com
Opening Statement:
In the Basic Class we provided you with some basic information about the national
“Trend Setter” gangs and how they use their influence to shape the movements of gang
members throughout the nation.
This class is being provided to assist you with obtaining the tools necessary to conduct
investigations on your gang members. It is designed to show you common places to
obtain “Open Intelligence” and guide you through how to use this intelligence once it is
obtained.
This class is Law Enforcement Sensitive, as we do not want to teach the members where
we are obtaining this information, so I would ask that you guard the information and use
it to your benefit.
I ask that you participate and ask questions so that I may answer any questions you may
have and assist you with areas that appear confusing.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Learning objective: The student will be able to identify and explain the current
Texas laws pertaining to gang members.

Learning objective: The student will be able to identify and explain the definition
of a criminal street gang.

Learning objective: The student will be able to identify and explain criteria used to
properly identify gang members.

Learning objective: The student will be able to identify and explain a positive
relationship for an SBLE Officer and their students.

Learning objective: The student will be able to identify and explain the proper
documentation of gang members to be utilized in a criminal case.

Learning objective: The student will be able to identify and explain tools that may
be utilized in obtaining intelligence for a criminal prosecution of a street gang
member.
Recap of SBLE Basic

What is the definition of a “Criminal Street Gang”?
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John Bowman
Gang Specialist
Consultant, Expert Witness, and Instructor
jbowman@hot.rr.com
o Three or more persons having an identifiable sign or symbol who continuously or
regularly associate in the commission of criminal activity
 Where do we find the Criteria to document a person as a gang member?
o Chapter 61 CCP
 How many Criteria exist to document a person as a gang member?
o 10
 How many criteria do you need to document a person as a gang member?
o 2 in most cases (explain below rules)
o 2 stand alone criteria
o 3 in one instance
 Who can we release information from a gang database to?
o Criminal Justice Only
True or False

Information contained in the gang file must be relevant to the individual
committing criminal activity.
o False (Organization Committing criminal activity)
 Juvenile and adult records may be kept together in a gang database.
o True
 You may collect juvenile photographs for the gang database without meeting the
requirements set forth in the family code.
o True
 Juvenile or school based gangs are merely “Wanna-bee’s” and are less likely to
be a threat.
o False
 Adult gang files are good for 3 years.
o True
 Intelligence databases are governed by 28CFR.
o True
 A subject admitting in open court of gang membership may be documented as a
gang member with no other criteria being met.
o True
Modern Day Gangs
 The modern day gang has closed all of the gaps.
 They have crossed all racial boundaries
 They have crossed all socioeconomic boundaries
 They have moved from the inner city and into the mainstream of society
 They have infiltrated into police departments, the military, Politics, and Corporate
America
Regardless of Age
 Slide shows pictures of both juvenile and adult gang members
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John Bowman
Gang Specialist
Consultant, Expert Witness, and Instructor
jbowman@hot.rr.com
o Discussion – Both groups take their membership seriously and equally pose a
threat.
Their Education
 Video depicting messages taught to gang members through entertainment
o Video – “Gangster Rap made me do it”.
The School Based Officer
 What kind of officer are we looking for?
o Self Motivated
o Open Minded
o Determined
o Approachable
SBLE Upper Hand
 SBLE Officers are in a great position to obtain information from their students as
to current gang trends and activities in their communities.
 Students will often times discuss issues with campus police because they have
built a valued rapport with the officer due to day to day contact.
 There is nothing wrong with being viewed as an officer that cares
 This relationship with students will lead to a positive impact.
Building the basis for the SBLE Relationship
 Students should be able to understand that business is business, but the officer
is still a person too.
 Students should have a clear line of understanding of when you are taking
control.
 Students should feel comfortable in approaching a campus officer and trust that
what is said will remain in confidence.
o This is critical in maintaining campus safety
 A Positive relationship with students will go a long way.
Juvenile Intelligence
 Juveniles are an excellent source of intelligence
 If children are joining gangs
 Where are they getting their information from
 Kids will usually be your first clue to a problem
Why is this relationship so important?
 Slide shows a photo of weapons and narcotics recovered
o Discussion – If older gang members are involved in criminal activity, then
juvenile gang members are aware of much of what is going on within the gang
Types of Interviews
 LE Interviews
 Field Contact
 Intelligence
 Criminal Investigation
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John Bowman
Gang Specialist
Consultant, Expert Witness, and Instructor
jbowman@hot.rr.com
 In Custody
Assistance Interviews
 Probation/Parole
 Administrative
Things to Consider
 You pick the location
 Record if possible
 Avoid being distracted
 Watch the subject
 Limit the number of people in room
 Try and work the interview with Respect for Respect
 Work from out to in
 Don’t get in a hurry
 Control the interview
Interviews
 When interviewing gang members we must remember that:
 If conducted in front of their peers we will obtain very little information
 Information obtained is less likely to be accurate
 Place the member at risk with other members in the area
 Officer Safety becomes an issue
 If done in their hood, or an area of comfort, they feel like they are in control
Keys to success
 Divide and Conquer
 Know Basic Knowledge
 Look
 Listen
 Ask
 Document
Distraction Techniques
 Use things they don’t like. (Visual)
o Quartering
o Glazed Doughnuts
o Kentucky Fried Chicken
o Burger King
o Fish Sandwiches
o Colored Soda
o Colored Pens
 Say things they don’t like. (Verbal)
o Doughnuts
o Crabs
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John Bowman
Gang Specialist
Consultant, Expert Witness, and Instructor
jbowman@hot.rr.com
o Slobs
o Vicky Loo’s
o Queens
Gang Investigations
 Education
o Obtain knowledge of the gangs in your area
o Who they are
o Rules
o Leadership (Rank Structure)
o Area of Operation
o What Criminal Activities are they involved in
o Although you will obtain knowledge on multiple gangs, pick a couple to specialize
in.
o The More Knowledge You Have… The Greater threat you are to them.
Know Your Gangs
 Video
Tools For Success
 Gang Database
o Not only mandated by law, but an important tool to properly investigate and
prosecute gang related crimes.
Keys for a successful database
 Accuracy
 Documentation (Hard files/computer files)
 Photographs
 Proper Purge Records
 Intelligence
Intelligence
 Graffiti Intelligence
o Document turf
o Document names associated with
o Document crimes/threats/rivalries
o Photograph all Graffiti
o Even the smallest graffiti may have some value
Graffiti Intelligence
 Photographs of various gang graffiti
o Discussion – How photos have been used in criminal investigations
Social Networking Sites
 MySpace
 Facebook
 Moco Space
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John Bowman
Gang Specialist
Consultant, Expert Witness, and Instructor
jbowman@hot.rr.com
 Black Planet
My Space
 Photo’s obtained
 Screen Captures
 Law Enforcement guide
 Preservations Letter
 Video
You Tube
 Video
o Discussion
Music
 Sample of local level music
o Discuss of criminal activities from music
 How information may be used in criminal cases
Tattoos
 Photographs of various tattoos
Writings
 Should be collected
 Should be maintained
 Should be studied
 You may need it later
o Example of gang writings presented
o Discussions of gang codes and how writings can be used in breaking codes
Search Warrants
 Evidentiary
 Narco’s (Narcotics Investigations)
o Be prepared to write and serve countless search warrants when conducting a gang
investigation
 Include
o Writings, Videos, Media, Phones, Papers, Jewelry, Clothing, Computers, etc.
Conclusion
Questions
Discussion
Review
BREAK
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John Bowman
Gang Specialist
Consultant, Expert Witness, and Instructor
jbowman@hot.rr.com
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