The "gang problem," first noticed significantly in eastern Loudoun County in 2002 and appearing to grow over succeeding years, now appears to have crested and in recent years declined somewhat, according to a study released last week by the Northern Virginia Gang Task Force.
But at the same time, according to Assessment Director Ken Billingsley, organized gangs are recruiting members at a younger age, reaching into middle schools as well as high schools.
"Schools arguably are the best resource for gang recruitment," Billingsley said among remarks at a press conference summarizing his assessment, "and thus the schools are going to be where we need to have effective suppression programs."
The detailed, 62-page assessment reports a 12 percent reduction from 2004 to 2008 in gang-associated violent crimes against persons, along with a 20 percent reduction in thefts, a 32 percent reduction in robberies, and 18 percent fewer burglaries.
In Northern Virginia, gangs are estimated to have accounted for about 5 percent of violent crime, and about 2 percent of crimes overall.
In Loudoun County, the report counted 9 gang-related "Part I offenses" in 2003, 31 in 2004, 14 in 2005, 21 in 2006, 13 in 2007 and 18 in 2008. Included in "Part I offenses" are: criminal homicide, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny and car theft.
The Northern Virginia Gang Task Force includes 16 county, city or town jurisdictions plus the Virginia State Police, and cooperates regularly with local FBI and other federal enforcement agencies.
U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf took the initiative in 2002 in bringing together the local, state and federal enforcement jurisdictions into an inter-agency task force to combat gangs which operated in multiple jurisdictions. Wolf said the work created a "shared regional gang database."
"No one should have to live in fear of gangs," said Wolf. "We have created an effective model here in Northern Virginia that other jurisdictions are now copying and putting in place in their regions."
"Significant progress has been made," added Wolf, "but there is still work to be done."
Loudoun Sheriff Steve Simpson echoed that sentiment. "We can't rest on gang suppression," said Simpson. "We must continue to be aggressive. We can't give gangs that inch they are looking for."