A recent resurgence of gang violence on the reservation, specifically tribal housing developments, has prompted a revival of a gang task force to help snuff out such activities.
Two shootings involving tribal members with gang affiliation occurred within two weeks of each other earlier this month. Both occurred within a Puyallup Tribal Housing Authority development at Columbia and ‘T’ Streets.
In 2004, high gang crime rates prompted the development of a gang task force, which included stakeholders from a variety of tribal departments. Over four years, the group met several of its goals, creating prevention, intervention and awareness programs such as peace walks and rallies, the implementation of the Gang Resistance and Education Training (GREAT) program at Chief Leschi School (see related GREAT camp article on page one), and the addition of a tribal housing officer to help quell unwanted gang activity in housing developments. The task force slowly fizzled out in 2008.
By the end of July 2009, a re-vamped gang task force will have met three times during the month.
They are now calling themselves the community task force, and are aiming to include members from Tribal Council, law enforcement, Community and Family Services, Children’s Services, Chief Leschi Schools, the housing authority and mental and behavioral health specialists from Kwawachee Counseling Center.
“We’ve already got good cop suppression going on, but (activity is) kind of heating up on the East Side,” said David Whited, grant writer for the Tribe. “We need a more concerted effort of prevention and intervention. We need to offer families that are at risk more support services before kids and their parents go separate ways – before they pick another family to identify with, and wear their colors.”
So far, the community task force has discussed a variety of ideas for solutions to increase awareness, prevention, intervention, suppression and support.
Reviving a community policing program, providing more support for families and gang members released from jail and increasing partnerships with neighboring jurisdictions and youth programs are all possible solutions that have been brought to the table.
The task force has also discussed the possibility of banning known gang members from the reservation.
“We had a problem a couple of years ago and we thought we had curtailed this activity,” said Tribal Councilmember David Bean following the first recent task force meeting. “We’re not sure why, but they’re at it again – and it is worse than ever out there. We have got to do something so that (Tribal Housing Authority tenants) can feel safe in their homes.
“We’re going to ask that gang members leave the reservation and not come back.”
Tribal Housing Authority Director Annette Bryan noted the authority has a zero tolerance policy for gang activity and tenants can be taken to court and evicted for hosting gang members as guests in their homes.
“We will continue to enforce our policies to ensure the safety and the welfare of our tenants,” she said.
The third community taskforce meeting will be held July 29, at a time still to be determined.
