Benton County Sheriff Vows to Combat Growing Gang Problem
PROSSER, Wash. -- Near the Old Inland Empire and Gap Road in Prosser, on six acres of countryside, Charlotte Best has a cozy home where she's farmed and raised livestock for more than 30 years.
"We like it," she said. "This is a very beautiful area."
And yet her home is nestled in neighborhood recently plagued by gang activity. In the last few months, Charlotte's neighborhood has become a hot-spot for drive-bys and gang shootings.
So far, no one's been hurt but people are scared.
"Oh yes, definitely," Charlotte said. "Intimidated and scared enough to buy a gun."
Newly-elected Benton County Sheriff Steve Keane explained, "We're starting to see the influences of gangs much more prevalent than we've seen in the past."
Keane said he's tackling the issue on the west side of the county head on. "I look at it as an opportunity, I really do."
And he has to because it's not just violent gang shootings troubling Benton County. Gangs are financing their criminal operations in Prosser, too, by stealing people's stuff. Property crimes spiked last year compared to the year before.
"Overall they were much higher," Keane continued. "Auto thefts, thefts and burglaries, and again, I think a lot of these thefts are due to financing drug and gang operations."
Along with other agencies including the Metro Drug Task Force, Tri-City Violent Gang Task Force and others, the Sheriff is able to track, identify and arrest gang members. He frequently talks to Yakima-based police and sheriff departments to see how they're dealing with gangs and what tactics have been successful.
Plus, he said, Benton County deputies go to local schools to help educate kids about gangs and how to get out of them.
But with more than 1,700 miles to cover, deputies are constantly working overtime to gang up on this dangerous problem.
"Overall, I think we're in a good position but I don't want to rest where we're at right now.," Keane said. "I think there's opportunities for us to do a better job."
Neighbors like Charlotte are counting on that enforcement to keep families safe from gangs.
"We like it," she said. "This is a very beautiful area."
And yet her home is nestled in neighborhood recently plagued by gang activity. In the last few months, Charlotte's neighborhood has become a hot-spot for drive-bys and gang shootings.
So far, no one's been hurt but people are scared.
"Oh yes, definitely," Charlotte said. "Intimidated and scared enough to buy a gun."
Newly-elected Benton County Sheriff Steve Keane explained, "We're starting to see the influences of gangs much more prevalent than we've seen in the past."
Keane said he's tackling the issue on the west side of the county head on. "I look at it as an opportunity, I really do."
And he has to because it's not just violent gang shootings troubling Benton County. Gangs are financing their criminal operations in Prosser, too, by stealing people's stuff. Property crimes spiked last year compared to the year before.
"Overall they were much higher," Keane continued. "Auto thefts, thefts and burglaries, and again, I think a lot of these thefts are due to financing drug and gang operations."
Along with other agencies including the Metro Drug Task Force, Tri-City Violent Gang Task Force and others, the Sheriff is able to track, identify and arrest gang members. He frequently talks to Yakima-based police and sheriff departments to see how they're dealing with gangs and what tactics have been successful.
Plus, he said, Benton County deputies go to local schools to help educate kids about gangs and how to get out of them.
But with more than 1,700 miles to cover, deputies are constantly working overtime to gang up on this dangerous problem.
"Overall, I think we're in a good position but I don't want to rest where we're at right now.," Keane said. "I think there's opportunities for us to do a better job."
Neighbors like Charlotte are counting on that enforcement to keep families safe from gangs.
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