You can?t walk the streets of Aberdeen for long without seeing signs of gang activity.
A six-pointed blue star here, a “BK” there, or even the blatant tag of “Crip” spray-painted on a neighborhood sign.
Gang activity has become enough of a concern that the Aberdeen Police Department formed a unit of officers to address the issue a month ago.
The mission of Aberdeen?s Rapid Deployment Response Team, a four-man unit, is to get drugs and guns off the streets. In 30 days, the unit has seized two guns and made several drug arrests.
“Guns and drugs are what we?re after, and gangs have guns and drugs,” said Capt. Kenneth Cox.
The Rapid Deployment Response Team, members of which are also part of the department?s SWAT team, is composed of highly trained officers who will deter gang and criminal activity by maintaining a presence in troubled areas of Aberdeen, Cox said.
“Right now, they?re working on a case-by-case basis, only a few days a week,” Cox said.
The unit, led by Cpl. Dan Gosnell, usually operates on the weekends when drug and gang activity is more prevalent in the city. Cox said a police dog will also join the unit.
As to the cost of the new unit, since the members are already part of the department, Cox anticipated that overtime would be the only immediate expense associated with the Rapid Deployment Response Team. Equipment, such as weapons and night-vision equipment, has been funded through federal grants.
mplum@baltimoreexaminer
