APD.SOP.5070 Gang Task Force

To establish proper procedures for the Gang Task Force (GTF) within the Atlanta Police Department to stem rising criminal activity associated with gangs in the community.

2. POLICY

It is the policy of Atlanta Police Department to aggressively monitor, track, and suppress the growth and spread of gang activity by establishing proactive cooperation with the Atlanta School system, community based groups, and other law enforcement agencies.

3. RESPONSIBILITIES

3.1 The Criminal Investigation Division (CID) commander will establish the Atlanta Police Department's GTF and ensure that adequate personnel and equipment resources are provided.

3.2 The Special Enforcement Section (SES) commander will oversee the actions of the GTF.

3.3 The Targeted Enforcement Unit (TEU) commander will monitor the GTF's operations to ensure that enforcement activities occur in problem areas.

3.4 The GTF commander will manage the operations of the members of the task force.

3.5 The GTF supervisors will develop plans and direct operations designed to identify, verify, monitor, and suppress gang activity. Supervisors will serve as liaison with the zones, Intelligence/Organized Crime Unit, Special Victims Unit, School Detectives, the Narcotics/Vice Unit, and the Community Services Section.

3.6 GTF investigators and officers will develop constructive, working relationships with police units and community leaders concerned with the knowledgeable of gang activities.

4. ACTION

4.1 An Advisory Committee will be appointed by the Chief of Police and may consist of citizens representing schools, churches, grass root organizations, former gang members, and neighborhood groups to facilitate communications and participation with specific reference to an evolving gang problem.

4.2 The Duties of the GTF

4.2.1 The GTF will target gang members for special surveillance and special enforcement to include:

1. Frequent scanning of arrest sheets;

2. Strict enforcement to traffic and City Code Violations;

4. Networking with prosecutors, probation, and parole authorities.

4.2.2 GTF investigators and officers will gather all evidence relative to gang motivation and gang participation in a specific act, including physical evidence and that information gained through interrogations, interviews, and debriefings.

4.2.3 GTF investigators and officers will determine whether the victim was or still is a gang member and document the history of related or similar crimes by the offender's gang and the victim's gang.

4.2.4 The GTF will increase surveillance patrols and enforcement in areas frequented by members of conflicting gangs.

4.2.5 The GTF, in conjunction with the Intelligence Unit, will pay special attention to festivals, sporting events, parades, funerals of gang members, and other special events in order to monitor gang presence and to deter violent criminal behavior.

1. Investigators and officers will collect data on gangs and gang members and develop intelligence files to monitor the activities of criminal gangs and their members.

2. Investigators and officers will share gang intelligence systematically with other law enforcement agencies from surrounding areas to track gang activity.

3. Investigators and officers will work closely with prosecutors to provide or gather additional information and evidence required for case preparation and prosecution.

4.2.6 The GTF supervisors will coordinate their activities with other units within the Department, and with outside agencies to ensure that their respective activities do not conflict or interfere with each other

4.2.7 The GTF commander will file a daily report with the commander of the Special Enforcement Section, or his or her designee(s), including the following:

1. Copies of all arrest and offense reports.

2. A gang activity summary to include gang related incidents coming to the attention of

the GTF which occurred elsewhere in the Metropolitan Atlanta Area.

3. Reports on newly identified gangs, their membership, leaders, and base of operations.

4.2.8 The SES commander, or his or her designee(s), will forward appropriate reports and summaries to the commander of the CID. In addition, the SES commander will ensure that information relevant to the zones, AHA, or outside agencies is forwarded in an accurate and timely manner.

4.2.9 The SES commander, or his or her designee(s) will forward a comprehensive monthly summary report to the CID commander.

4.3 The GTF Organization

4.3.1 Administration

1. The GTF will utilize all GTF documentation in strict compliance with all existing criminal justice guidelines, including but not limited to the collection, receipt, storage, access, use and dissemination of all GTF information.

2. Regardless of the criminal activity involved, no GTF related information may be utilized, which the user has reason to believe may have been obtained in violation of the law.

4.3.2 Documentation and Dissemination

1. Requests for information from law enforcement officers may be answered by a GTF member or Intelligence Unit sworn employee and will be logged into an information release log.

a. The log book will include the requesting agency and person, reason for request, information released, date of release, and a supervisor signature authorizing release of information for external law enforcement request.

b. The Gang Unit commander, or his or her designee is responsible for maintaining the information release log book.

4.3.3 Security

1. The SES will provide a secure area for the GTF equipment, which will limit access to only authorized personnel.

2. The GTF commander will safeguard equipment and communication lines connected to the GTF and ensure that only authorized employees are allowed to access them.

3. To effectively maintain confidentiality of data, all GTF members are responsible for safeguarding GTF manuals, updates, and other information related to the GTF.

4. The GTF members will ensure that any printed copies of intelligence and investigative information are afforded security to prevent any unauthorized access or use of data. Data no longer needed for investigative purposes will be shredded.

5. The GTF supervisor will take disciplinary action against any individual found to be violating state or federal guidelines, or this directive.

5. DEFINITIONS

5.1 Gang/Criminal Street Gang: Any organization, association, or group of three or more persons associated in fact, whether formal or informal, which engages in criminal gang activity as defined in O.C.G.A. 16-15-3. The existence of such organization, association, or group of individuals associated in fact may be established by evidence of a common name or common identifying signs, symbols, tattoos, graffiti, or attire or other distinguishing characteristics. Such term shall not include three or more persons, associated in fact, whether formal or informal, who are not engaged in criminal gang activity.

5.2 Gang-Related Crime: Criminal acts that include gang violence or gang retaliation related to turf protection, signing, recruitment or any criminal activity such as drug trafficking. Any incident wherein participants, suspects, or victims are identified gang members or associates. When a reliable informant identifies an incident as gang activity. When an informant of previously untested reliability identifies an incident as gang activity and it is corroborated by other attendant circumstances or independent verification.

5.3 Gang Member: Gang member identification is based on the following criteria:

1. When an individual admits membership in a gang.

2. When a reliable informant identifies an individual as a gang member.

3. When an informant of previously untested reliability identifies an individual as a gang member and it is corroborated by independent verification.

4. When an individual resides in or frequents a particular gang's area and affects their style of dress, use of hand signs, symbols, or tattoos, and associates with known gang members.

5. When an individual has been arrested several times in the company of identified gang members for offenses which are consistent with usual gang activity.

6. When there are strong indications that an individual has a close relationship with a gang but does not fit the above criteria, he should be identified as a "gang associate."

5.4 Gang-Related Crime Data: Data on gang-related incidents involving the criminal acts of homicide, involuntary manslaughter, aggravated assault, simple assault, simple battery, robbery, armed robbery, aggravated battery, burglary, drug trafficking, disorderly conduct, aggravated sodomy, aggravated sexual battery, statutory rape, rape, stalking, theft, arson, vandalism, trespass, threats, racketeering, damage or vandalism of property, violating the security protocols of any state or county correctional facility, and aid or encourage a minor to escape from custody.

5.5 Gang Symbols and Indicators:

1. Graffiti: may represent a gang name, the nickname of a gang member, denote turf boundaries, resemble graffiti of gangs in chronic problem neighbors or cities ("wannabees"), or indicate disrespect for rival gang symbols.

2. Clothes/Colors: each gang is usually but not always identified by distinctive colors or color combinations of clothing, hats, shoe laces, etc. Clothing, such as sweaters, gloves, hats, and pants, may be worn in a particular manner to indicate gang affiliation.

3. Tattoos: usually illustrating gang symbols, gang name or the gang moniker of the individual usually found on different parts of the body.

4. Signing: hand and arm signals and special body expressions may be used to identify membership in a specific gang or confederation, or may signify a challenge to a rival gang.

6. CANCELLATIONS

APD.SOP.5070 �Gang Task Force�, issued July 1, 2004

7. REFERENCES

APD.SOP.5060 �Fugitive Operations�

APD.SOP.3065 �Field Interviews�

APD.SOP.3067 "Gang Data Reporting"

Part 23, Section 28, Federal Code of Regulations

Georgia Code Section 16-15-3