Small town gang problems overflowing into the Tri-Cities
KEPR has told you about the increasing gang violence in Walla Walla, Prosser and Sunnyside.The appearance of new, more organized gangs has law enforcement cracking down. The latest example came this weekend when a three-man gang fight ended with one man stabbed and hospitalized in Walla Walla. KEPR found out there's concern this small-town gang activity could overflow into the Tri-Cities.
Cesar Sanchez is a father of three and doesn't want his kids growing up surrounded by gangs.
"Gangs are more related with drugs and crime, so we are afraid of gang activity," said Cesar Sanchez.
He's lived here for 12 years and has already seen the violence get worse.
"Hearing about more robberies and in the alley, there's more graffiti," Sanchez explains.
That's how it started in smaller towns like Prosser and Walla Walla. Now, they are facing problems with more serious, organized gangs.
Sanchez is worried what the future might hold in the Tri-Cities.
"I don't know a lot about Yakima, but I heard there's a lot of gang activity over there," Sanchez said.
Police forces across the Tri-Cities are dedicated to keep this from happening. However, they are seeing more graffiti similar to tags in Walla Walla and Prosser.
"Sharing intel between our 2 counties is very important," says Kennewick Police Sgt. Ken Lattin.
It's about keeping tabs on the tags, knowing what gangs are in which neighborhoods and where they're headed next.
"A constant moving target and we just continue to handle it as it changes. Our goal is not to move violence to another community, our goal is to hold gang members accountable for their actions," says Lattin.
Keeping them accountable means combining incarceration with education. For neighbors like Sanchez, he just wants them off his street where his children play.
Police tell us that overall, the gangs in our area move here from Arizona, New Mexico and Southern California.
Cesar Sanchez is a father of three and doesn't want his kids growing up surrounded by gangs.
"Gangs are more related with drugs and crime, so we are afraid of gang activity," said Cesar Sanchez.
He's lived here for 12 years and has already seen the violence get worse.
"Hearing about more robberies and in the alley, there's more graffiti," Sanchez explains.
That's how it started in smaller towns like Prosser and Walla Walla. Now, they are facing problems with more serious, organized gangs.
Sanchez is worried what the future might hold in the Tri-Cities.
"I don't know a lot about Yakima, but I heard there's a lot of gang activity over there," Sanchez said.
Police forces across the Tri-Cities are dedicated to keep this from happening. However, they are seeing more graffiti similar to tags in Walla Walla and Prosser.
"Sharing intel between our 2 counties is very important," says Kennewick Police Sgt. Ken Lattin.
It's about keeping tabs on the tags, knowing what gangs are in which neighborhoods and where they're headed next.
"A constant moving target and we just continue to handle it as it changes. Our goal is not to move violence to another community, our goal is to hold gang members accountable for their actions," says Lattin.
Keeping them accountable means combining incarceration with education. For neighbors like Sanchez, he just wants them off his street where his children play.
Police tell us that overall, the gangs in our area move here from Arizona, New Mexico and Southern California.
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