16-05-2025
MLSD meeting addresses gang activity, youth safety
May 16—MOSES LAKE — Community leaders, educators, law enforcement officials and parents gathered at the Moses Lake School District on Tuesday for a discussion on youth safety and gang activity.
The meeting, which featured a panel of experts from various sectors, aimed to convey important information regarding the challenges and trends in the community while outlining preventive measures and fostering collaboration between families and institutions.
Expert panel
The meeting kicked off with introductions of key figures, including North Central Educational Service District Threat Assessment Coordinator Hunter McLeod, Regional Safety Officer from ESD 123 Shelby Jensen and Moses Lake Police Department School Resource Officer Ray Lopez.
"I'm here to talk about prevention, intervention, and how we can come together to support our community," McLeod said.
Each member brought a unique perspective to the table, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in addressing the multifaceted challenges of gang involvement among youth.
Panelists highlighted the importance of education and awareness in mitigating the gang influence on youth. Jensen shared her experiences working closely with troubled youth and the realities many students face.
"These kids don't just wake up one day and decide to join a gang. They're often looking for connection or protection, and sometimes, that means turning to gangs," Jensen said.
Panelists discussed the various educational initiatives being employed within local schools to raise awareness about the dangers of gang involvement. McLeod emphasized the necessity of cohesive support systems.
"Our goal is not just to enforce the law; it's also about building relationships with these kids," Lopez said.
"It's about blending education with community support," McLeod said. "We need to have parents, schools, and law enforcement working in tandem to address these issues."
Lopez elaborated on the importance of building trust and rapport in schools, a theme echoed by multiple panelists throughout the meeting.
"We want these kids to see us as resources, not just authority figures," Lopez said.
Gangs in Moses Lake
The Sureños and Norteños are two prominent street gang factions in Grant County, McLeod said, primarily known for their rivalry and association with respective prison gangs.
Sureños members are affiliated with the Mexican Mafia, La Eme. For the Sureños, blue and black, the letter "M," the number 13 and L.A. Dodgers are examples commonly found to represent themselves.
Norteños are aligned with the Nuestra Familia. For the Norteños, red, the number 14, Norte, the letter N, the huelga bird and NorCal references are common symbols representing the group.
Gang indicators
McLeod said gangs are targeting younger and younger people for recruitment efforts.
"What used to be a high school concern is now creeping into middle and even elementary schools," she said, highlighting the need for early intervention strategies as soon as fourth grade.
Lopez and Jensen agreed.
"Many kids are looking for acceptance, and gangs provide that. It's essential that we create inviting, inclusive environments in schools to help offset that," Lopez said.
He added that gang signs and symbols need to be understood at all age levels to combat recruitment effectively.
Both McLeod and Lopez said another large difference in modern gangs is that they are less willing to identify themselves. Lopez said it used to be easy to tell by the red and blue colors and other flags; however, children are getting more creative and secretive about their gang involvement now.
"In my opinion, these guys don't wear the colors. The younger sets, a lot of times, they don't. They kind of hide their colors," Lopez said.
He said he still sees a lot of Norteño gang members wearing red but in more inconspicuous ways, such as sports apparel. However, with the Sureños, he has seen a sharp decrease in those gang members wearing the traditional blue and black.
McLeod also discussed the importance of social media for gang recruitment and organizing. She said a lot of parents don't realize their child has social media, nonetheless that they are using it for criminal activities.
"Parents should know what social media their kiddos have, all of the passwords and they should be checking them frequently," McLeod said. "That's how kids are getting away with stuff. Parents can be sitting in the same room with their child on their phone and the kid could be planning or discussing criminal activities without the parents having a single clue."
The panel also touched on the importance of graffiti as an indicator of gang presence.
"Graffiti is the newspaper of the streets," McLeod said. "Removing it promptly is necessary to reduce its impact and visibility."
Prevention & intervention
Throughout the evening, the panel underscored that prevention starts with awareness and education. The members encouraged parents and community members to be vigilant and proactive.
"Parents need to know what their kids are wearing and whom they are associating with," Lopez explained. "It's crucial to understand that certain behaviors can lead to gang involvement."
The realities of parenting can complicate this vigilance, especially in low-income circumstances, where parents may work long hours and struggle to monitor their children's activities.
The panel also discussed the importance of mental health resources for children. With youth experiencing not only the societal pressures of gang culture but also the psychological toll of bullying and intimidation, programs targeting these issues are vital.
STOPit
The Moses Lake School District uses the STOPit program for anonymous reporting for students, staff, parents and community members.
The reporting platform can be accessed here:
Jensen said it is important for students to report any behaviors that may be concerning to a trusted adult or through STOPit.
"Students know things far sooner than adults do," Jensen said. "The kiddos see way more, hear way more and are connected than ever before."
Collaboration
The sentiment of collaboration echoed throughout the evening as the need for a united front against gang activity was emphasized repeatedly. The community was reminded that addressing these issues requires cooperation among parents, educators, law enforcement, and local organizations.
"With so much misinformation and fear in the community, the only way to eliminate these issues is by working together," Jensen said. "We can't afford to ignore the signs; we have to act."
Call to action
As the evening drew to a close, panelists reiterated the importance of continued discussions and initiatives to address youth gang involvement effectively. They urged community members not only to stay informed but also to remain vigilant and proactive in fostering safe spaces for their children.
"It's your job to investigate if your child is involved in activities that raise red flags," Jensen said. "Don't rely solely on trust; verify what's happening in their lives."
McLeod and Jensen closed their presentation with "Ten things you can do tonight," which included:
—Check your child's phone and social media accounts.
—Talk to your child about their day, who they hung out with and where they are going.
—Review the school handbook and dress code with your student.
—Set up or check parental controls on all devices.
—Make sure all firearms in the home are locked and inaccessible.
—Plan for a random room check with respect but firmness.
—Have a direct conversation about belonging and peer pressure.
—Get familiar with local slang, graffiti and emojis related to gangs and violence
—Encourage your child to share their location with you.
—Remind your child that they can come to you with any concern without judgement.
"We are here to support our youth, and through collaboration, we can make a difference," McLeod said.
SOURCE: Washington State Legislature
State Law
RCW 28A.600.455
Gang activity—Suspension or expulsion.
(1) A student who is enrolled in a public school or an alternative school may be suspended or expelled if the student is a member of a gang and knowingly engages in gang activity on school grounds.
(2) "Gang" means a group which: (a) Consists of three or more persons; (b) has identifiable leadership; and (c) on an ongoing basis, regularly conspires and acts in concert mainly for criminal purposes.
RCW 9.94A.030
"Criminal street gang" means any ongoing organization, association, or group of three or more persons, whether formal or informal, having a common name or common identifying sign or symbol, having as one of its primary activities the commission of criminal acts, and whose members or associates individually or collectively engage in or have engaged in a pattern of criminal street gang activity. This definition does not apply to employees engaged in concerted activities for their mutual aid and protection, or to the activities of labor and bona fide nonprofit organizations or their members or agents.
(13) "Criminal street gang associate or member" means any person who actively participates in any criminal street gang and who intentionally promotes, furthers, or assists in any criminal act by the criminal street gang.
(14) "Criminal street gang-related offense" means any felony or misdemeanor offense, whether in this state or elsewhere, that is committed for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with any criminal street gang, or is committed with the intent to promote, further, or assist in any criminal conduct by the gang, or is committed for one or more of the following reasons:
(a) To gain admission, prestige, or promotion within the gang;
(b) To increase or maintain the gang's size, membership, prestige, dominance or control in any geographical area;
(c) To exact revenge or retribution for the gang or any member of the gang;
(d) To obstruct justice, or intimidate or eliminate any witness against the gang or any member of the gang;
(e) To directly or indirectly cause any benefit, aggrandizement, gain, profit or other advantage for the gang, its reputation, influence, or membership; or
(f) To provide the gang with any advantage in, or any control or dominance over any criminal market sector, including, but not limited to, manufacturing, delivering, or selling any controlled substance (chapter 69.50 RCW); arson (chapter 9A.48 RCW); trafficking in stolen property (chapter 9A.82 RCW); promoting prostitution (chapter 9A.88 RCW); human trafficking (RCW 9A.40.100); promoting commercial sexual abuse of a minor (RCW 9.68A.101); or promoting pornography (chapter 9.68 RCW).
